3  •      & 


THE    GREENWOODS 


"THE    GREENWOODS" 


BY 

LUCILE  GRINNAN  LYON 


NEW  YORK 

THE  NEAL  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
1915 


Copyright,   1915,  by 
THE  NEAL  PUBLISHING   COMPANY 


TO  BILLY 


2136714 


"THE  GREENWOODS 


CHAPTER  I 

"  AND  Bob  a  man  and  a  bachelor !  " 

A  pretty  young  married  cousin  sniffed  contemptu- 
ously, and  the  other  heirs  gazed  at  Robert  in  disgusted 
amazement. 

Yet  they  had  been  resigned  to  his  inheriting  the 
major  portion  of  Mark  Perkins's  vast  estate,  until  they 
heard  the  condition.  It  was  the  condition  that  caused 
the  heart-burning.  For  a  more  suitable  person  might 
have  been  found  to  carry  out  that  condition  and  receive 
the  benefits. 

"  A  million  dollars !  "  gasped  an  aunt.  "  And  just 
for  being  guardian  to  a  little  child  and  living  under 
the  same  roof  with  it!  What  could  Mark  have  been 
thinking  of?  " 

"  What  sort  of  child  can  it  be  ? "  asked  another 
aunt,  "  A  million  dollars  for  living  under  the  same 
roof  with  it !  I'm  glad  it  won't  be  my  roof !  " 

Verily,  it  was  enough  to  damage  the  reputation  of 
any  child. 

"  It  can't  be  the  child,"  ventured  an  uncle.  "  She 
is  not  more  than  eight  years  old,  is  an  orphan,  and  her 
father  was  one  of  the  finest  young  fellows  I  ever  met. 
He  died  saving  Mark's  life,  so  it  is  not  strange  that 
Mark  should  want  to  educate  the  daughter.  His  idea 

9 


10  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

must  have  been  to  get  Sylvia  away  from  Miss  Faunce; 
and  he  knew  it  would  take  a  hard-headed  man  like  Bob 
to  do  it." 

While  this  explanation  seemed  reasonable  enough 
(Miss  Faunce  being  the  young  woman  who  had  jilted 
the  elderly  millionaire  shortly  before  his  death)  ,  it 
failed  to  clear  entirely  the  orphan's  reputation,  or  to 
help  Bob  in  his  search  for  a  roof. 

Robert  Kingston  had  known  of  the  codicil  providing 
for  the  orphan,  but  as  he  was  to  inherit  the  bulk  of 
his  uncle's  property,  it  had  seemed  only  natural  that  he 
should  be  entrusted  with  his  uncle's  ward.  How  was 
he  to  see  that  domiciling  the  child  would  prove  vexa- 
tious to  a  millionaire;  how  was  he  to  suspect  that 
everybody  in  the  Perkins  connection, — that  is,  every- 
body that  was  of  the  proper  sex  for  rearing  a  little 
girl, — would  feel  insulted? 

Hitherto  young  Dr.  Kingston  had  led  a  care-free 
existence,  dividing  his  time  between  the  family  home  in 
Wayville, — where,  in  a  dilettante  way,  he  engaged  in 
bacteriological  research, — and  Boston, — only  a  short 
distance  off, — where  he  had  his  apartment  and  where  he 
sought  relaxation  from  the  strain  of  his  profession. 
Being  satisfied  with  this  mode  of  living,  he  saw  no  rea- 
son for  changing  it ;  but  his  family,  when  the  affair  was 
discussed  at  home,  felt  differently. 

"  Don't  bring  that  girl  around  me,  Bob,"  growled 
Walter,  his  school-boy  brother,  "  Marie  is  girl  enough 
for  one  family !  " 

Marie,  the  spoilt  darling  of  the  household,  grew 
tearful  at  the  prospect  of  having  to  share  her  kingdom ; 
but  Chester,  the  college  youth,  was  interested. 

"  Get  a  cast-iron  governess  and  keep  house,"  he  ad- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  11 

vised;  then  realizing  that  in  this  form  the  suggestion 
was  not  alluring,  he  hastened  to  improve  it.  "  Or  a 
young  and  pretty  governess,  and  a  cast-iron  chaperon." 

The  insistence  upon  the  necessity  of  cast  iron  prej- 
udiced Bob  against  the  housekeeping  project.  He 
turned  hopefully  to  his  mother  for  assistance.  She 
regretfully  shook  her  head.  To  be  quite  frank,  her 
feelings  were  sadly  confused.  She  was  gratified  that  her 
son  had  been  preferred  above  any  nephew  or  niece,  but 
she  could  not  understand  why,  if  dear  Mark  had 
wanted  her  to  bear  the  onus  of  this  child,  he  had  not 
mentioned  the  fact  in  his  will,  and  left  her  the  extra 
million.  Then,  too, — there  was  Marie. 

Mrs.  Kingston  had  brought  up  five  children  in  the 
fear  of  God  and  according  to  the  dictates  of  her  New 
England  conscience,  but  when  the  sternness  of  youth 
had  mellowed  into  middle  age,  Marie  had  come, — Marie, 
the  youngest  child  and  only  beauty!  The  searching 
inner  light  of  duty  had  faded  to  the  softer  glow  of 
mother  love,  in  whose  mild  gleamings  Marie  seemed  per- 
fect. 

"  I  am  sorry,  son,"  she  said  at  length,  "  but  Marie 
doesn't  like  children,  and  I  won't  have  her  pleasure  in 
her  home  marred  by  the  claims  of  another  child." 

Still  her  affection  for  all  her  children  was  uncomfort- 
ably intense,  so  it  pained  her  to  turn  her  first  born 
from  her  door.  Robert  marked  her  anxiety. 

"  Have  no  apprehensions,  mother,"  he  said  reassur- 
ingly. "  I  will  control  my  ward." 

"  Yes,"  she  put  in  hurriedly,  "  I  know  your  old- 
fashioned  ideas  on  the  subject,  but  I  am  too  old  to  start 
over  again.  Ask  your  married  sisters  to  help  you. 
My  advice  to  you  is  to  marry.  You  and  Ardelia  have 


12  '<  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

been  more  or  less  in  love  for  a  lifetime,  and  if  it  were 
not  for  that  widow " 

The  second  suggestion  remained  unfinished,  for  Bob 
hastily  sought  his  sisters,  to  whom  he  explained  in  turn 
that  all  he  wanted  was  a  voting  residence.  They,  how- 
ever, felt  that  as  he  was  getting  the  million  just  for  liv- 
ing under  the  roof  with  this  Forrest  child,  it  would  be 
quixotic  in  them  to  do  it  for  less. 

While  affairs  were  in  this  unsettled  state,  he  received 
a  letter  from  Miss  Faunce.  She  not  only  offered  to 
keep  the  child,  but  even  begged  for  the  privilege.  He 
was  surprised,  for  disinterestedness  was  not  supposed 
by  the  Perkins  connection  to  be  one  of  the  young 
woman's  characteristics. 

Of  course  he  refused  her  request,  but  she  promptly 
wrote  again, — this  time  asking  that  Sylvia  be  allowed  to 
remain  until  the  end  of  school.  As  this  was  just  six 
weeks  off, — and  he  was  still  minus  a  roof, — he  willingly 
consented. 

Then  his  mother  and  the  rest, — when  the  family 
again  met  in  conference, — wanted  to  know  what  he 
meant  by  it.  He  was  forced  to  defend  Miss  Faunce  in 
order  to  excuse  himself. 

"  She  doesn't  seem  such  a  bad  lot,"  he  began. 

"  She  broke  your  uncle's  heart !  Haven't  you  any 
gratitude?  " 

"He  left  the  child  with  her,  though.  And  if  she 
loves  it " 

"  She  is  a  heartless,  mercenary  wretch,  Robert,"  ex- 
plained his  mother.  "  And  merely  used  this  child  to 
further  her  own  ambitions." 

He   grasped    at    the   change    of    subject.      "How? 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  13 

And  how  did  she  get  possession  of  my  uncle's  ward  in 
the  first  place?  Is  she  related  to  Sylvia?  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  fell  into  the  trap. 

"  No,  the  child  has  no  relatives,  and  was  not  in 
Mark's  care  when  Miss  Faunce  took  charge  of  her. 
Captain  Forrest  had  not  made  Mark  the  guardian,  but 
had  left  Sylvia  to  her  stepmother.  Mark,  of  course, 
helped  them  all  he  could,  but  the  money  he  practically 
gave  them  was  in  Mrs.  Forrest's  name.  Mark  thought 
she  was  the  child's  own  mother.  But  when  she  died  a  few 
month's  after  her  husband,  without  a  will,  the  money, 
instead  of  going  to  her  stepchild,  went  to  Mrs.  Forrest's 
parents. 

"  The  transaction  was  legal,  but  Mark  was  left  in 
ignorance  of  it, — even  of  Mrs.  Forrest's  death.  These 
people  sent  Sylvia  to  a  convent,  allowing  her  just 
enough  money  for  her  education,  and  washed  their  hands 
of  the  encumbrance." 

"And  how  did  Uncle  Mark  hear  of  it?"  asked 
Robert. 

"  Through  Miss  Faunce.  She  was  also  a  pupil  at  the 
convent,  where  she  met  the  child,  took  a  fancy  to  it, — 
or  pretended  to, — and,  very  impertinently,  wrote  to 
Mark,  explaining  that  Sylvia  had  been  left  in  almost 
destitute  circumstances  and  asking  him  to  assist  her 
financially  in  educating  the  little  thing  properly.  Mark 
gladly  assented,  gave  Sylvia  a  most  generous  allowance, 
and  at  her  request  left  her  with  Miss  Faunce." 

"  The  rest  you  know,  Robert,"  added  an  aunt, — for 
nearly  the  whole  family  was  present  at  this  conclave. 
"  He  fell  in  love  with  Miss  Faunce,  was  deceived  by  her, 
and  died  of  a  broken  heart." 


14  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

This  had  not  been  Robert's  diagnosis  of  his  uncle's 
case,  but  he  prudently  remained  silent. 

"  So  it  is  your  duty,"  remarked  his  other  aunt,  "  to 
take  the  child  away  from  her  at  once." 

"  I  will, — just  as  soon  as  I  find  a  roof." 

The  aunt  who  had  last  spoken  said,  gazing  sternly  at 
him: 

"  You  are  not  going  about  this  in  the  right  spirit, 
Robert.  You  are  taking  your  uncle's  money  and  not 
carrying  out  the  condition  in  his  will.  You  could  get  a 
roof,  if  you  wanted  to.  I  doubt  if  you  ever  get  the 
child  at  all." 

"  Why  not?  "    He  spoke  coldly. 

"  Frances  Faunce  will  wheedle  you  into  letting  her 
keep  it." 

"  But  why,  my  dear  aunt,  should  a  heartless,  merce- 
nary wretch,  like  Miss  Faunce,  want  it?  " 

"  For  bait,  Robert.  She  probably  wants  your  mil- 
lion, and  I  see  you  are  ripe  for  the  plucking." 

The  metaphor  was  mixed,  but  no  one  noticed  it.  The 
remark  had  filled  Mrs.  Kingston  with  trepidation,  and 
Robert  with  scorn.  However,  in  his  own  interest,  he 
was  forced  again  to  Miss  Faunce's  defense. 

"  Then  why  didn't  she  marry  Uncle  Mark  when  she 
had  the  chance  and  get  the  million  and  everything  else 
besides  ?  " 

"  Because  she  is  too  fickle  to  know  what  she  really 
wants.  You  know  perfectly  well," — a  sister  was  speak- 
ing,— "  that  she  jilted  poor  dear  Uncle  Mark  for  a 
younger  man." 

"  Then  if  she  is  engaged  to  another,  I  ought  to  be 
reasonably  safe.  Cheer  up,  ladies,"  he  laughed. 

"  But   she   isn't.      She   has    since   thrown   over  the 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  15 

younger  man,"  retorted  the  sister,  "  She  wasn't  true 
even  to  him." 

Mrs.  Kingston  was  now  thoroughly  alarmed.  In  the 
face  of  the  danger  that  threatened  Robert,  even  Marie 
took  second  place. 

"  Let  me  go  and  get  the  child  for  you,  son,"  she 
pleaded. 

For  a  moment  Bob  was  surprised;  then  he  under- 
stood. 

"  I  can  get  Sylvia,  mother.  The  only  trouble  is  I 
haven't  yet  found  that  roof." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  imply  that  my  home  is  not  a  fit 
place  for  her?  " 

This  sudden  manoeuvre  of  his  mother's  made  the  son 
rather  dizzy,  but  he  did  not  lose  his  presence  of  mind. 
He  nabbed  the  roof  at  once. 

"  No,  indeed !  "  he  cried,  "  I  could  ask  no  better  place. 
So  sweet  of  you,  mother,  but  I  don't  want  you  to  be 
burdened  with  this  little  Forrest,  or " 

"  I  don't  intend  to  be.  I  merely  offer  you  a  home  for 
her.  She  mustn't  quarrel  with  Marie, — but  Marie  is 
amiability  itself,  and  unless  your  ward  makes  trouble, 
there  will  be  none." 

"  I  will  see  that  my  ward  does  her  duty  in  all  things," 
asserted  the  young  man,  with  as  much  firmness  as  rash- 
ness. 

"  Then  bring  her  by  all  means.  Marie  is  often  lone- 
some, and  a  child  that  can  be  controlled  may  prove 
serviceable." 

Every  one  present  resented  the  last  word  as  applied 
to  the  child  of  the  man  who  had  saved  Mark  Perkins's 
life.  Robert  frowned,  and  for  once  his  bitterest  aunt 
offered  him  her  services. 


16  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  If  you  prefer  housekeeping,  Robert,  I  will  help 
you,"  she  assured  him,  "  I  will  run  over  every  day  to 
see  that  Sylvia  is  properly  looked  after,  and  will  keep 
an  eye  upon  your  servants." 

All  the  ladies  assumed  an  accommodating  air,  all 
would  run  over  every  day,  and  Robert,  forthwith,  ac- 
cepted his  mother's  offer :  "  Thank  you,  mother,"  he 
said,  "  and  I  can  get  a  governess,  who  will  save  you  every 
annoyance." 

"  But  Marie  doesn't  like  governesses.  Why  won't 
Mrs.  Burns  do?  "  Mrs.  Burns  was  the  housekeeper. 

"  She  will,  if  you  prefer  her ;  and  she  can  doubtless 
suggest  a  nurse." 

"  But  I  have  too  many  servants  now.  Susie,  the  sec- 
ond maid,  can  help.  And  do  get  the  child  here  at  once." 

"  As  soon  as  her  school  is  out,"  he  promised. 

And  he  spoke  so  cordially  that  his  evasion  passed 
unnoticed. 


CHAPTER  II 

WHEN  the  six  weeks  had  passed,  Robert  went  to 
Baltimore  to  get  his  ward.  He  went  in  fear  and  trem- 
bling, though,  for  taking  a  child  from  even  an  unworthy 
woman  that  loves  it  is  not  an  ordeal  to  be  relished  by 
any  man. 

A  red-headed,  freckled-faced  child, — curly-haired  and 
dimpled,  daintily  arrayed  in  white,  with  a  big  bow  on 
her  head,  and  with  an  immaculately  clad,  but  weather- 
beaten  doll  under  her  arm, — was  waiting  for  him  on  the 
steps  as  he  approached  the  house.  She  called  out 
jovially  as  she  rose  to  meet  him: 

"  Howdy !     Are  you  my  new  guardian  ?  " 

Surprised  at  a  hearty  welcome  where  he  had  been 
dreading  tears  or  sulkiness,  he  gave  her  outstretched 
hand  a  grateful  squeeze.  "  Yes,  I  am  Dr.  Kingston. 
And  this  is — Sylvia?" 

"  Yessir,  I'm  The  Greenwoods,  and  glad  to  meet 
you." 

He  smiled  at  her  name  and  her  affectations. 

"The  Greenwoods?" 

"  Yessir ;  The  Greenwoods.  Greenwoods  Forest ; 
spelt  with  one  r,  like  the  dictionary." 

She  examined  him  critically,  and  deciding  that  he 
would  prove  amenable  over  the  r's, — which  Mr.  Mark 
Perkins  had  not, — she  led  him  in.  Mr.  Perkins  had 
wanted  her  to  spell  her  surname  with  two  just  because 
her  father  had.  But  as  for  The  Greenwoods,  she  had 
stuck  to  the  dictionary. 

17 


18  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Walk  right  on  in  and  make  yourself  at  home  while 
I  hang  up  your  hat.  It's  a  warm  day,  isn't  it?  Looks 
like  summer's  come  to  stay, — but  p'raps  we'll  have  rain 
to-morrow.  Walk  right  on  in." 

Not  unnaturally,  he  had  waited  for  a  pause  in  the 
conversation  before  leaving  her,  but  at  this  second 
bidding,  he  obeyed. 

Miss  Faunce  was  not  in  the  drawing-room,  but  after 
a  brief  interval  The  Greenwoods  entered.  He  supposed 
she  had  been  notifying  Miss  Faunce  of  his  arrival.  The 
child  seated  herself  airily  on  a  neighboring  settee,  and 
introduced  her  doll. 

"  Meet  Belinda,  Dr.  Kingston, — Belinda,  my  oldest 
daughter.  Shake  hands  with  the  gentleman,  Belinda, 
he's  your  mamma's  newest  guardian, — and  he  does  look 
young." 

Instead  of  responding  to  Belinda's  overtures,  the 
"  newest  guardian "  assumed  an  austere  mien,  as  he 
asked : 

"  Are  the  ladies  of  the  house  at  home  ?  " 

The  Greenwoods  was  insulted  at  the  slight,  and  her 
tone  matched  his  in  cold  composure.  "  Sister  Faunce 
is  in,  thanks,  but  has  a  severe  headache,"  The  Green- 
woods had  a  parrot's  gift  for  words.  The  longer  a 
word  was  the  better  she  liked  it,  "  so  begs  to  be  excused 
from  chaperoning  any  more  of  Frances'  flirtations." 

Robert  Kingston  was  startled  out  of  his  austerity  by 
this  statement,  so  The  Greenwoods  promptly  unbent, 
too,  and  grew  more  chummy. 

"Sister  Faunce  (and  she's  not  a  really  sister, — just 
our  sister-in-law),  has  been  making  it  hot  for  Francie, 
like  all  the  kin  do,  just  because  she  wouldn't  marry  Mr. 
Perkins  for  his  money.  They'd  announced  it  too.  But 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  19 

they  announced  it  too  soon.  How  could  France  know 
how  she'd  feel  about  him  before  he'd  kissed  her  with  that 
awful  mouth  of  his  ?  " 

At  the  light  thus  unexpectedly  thrown  upon  the  jilt- 
ing of  a  multimillionaire,  Robert  forgot  himself 
and  almost  chuckled.  Mark  Perkins's  mouth  had  been 
an  unfortunate  feature.  It  had  been  compared  to  a 
cat-fish's.  But  quickly  remembering  his  obligations  to 
his  uncle,  the  young  man  tried  again  to  look  severe. 

Realizing  her  blunder  almost  as  quickly,  The 
Greenwoods  floundered  unhappily,  and,  in  an  effort  to 
cover  her  confusion,  talked  more  rapidly  than  ever. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  Dr.  Kingston.  I  forgot  he  was  your 
uncle  or  I'd  never  a-mentioned  that  mouth.  I  hope 
you  don't  feel  hurt.  I  was  so  fond  of  Mr.  Perkins,  for 
he  was  my  papa's  friend.  Still  he  should  a-been.  Didn't 
papa  save  his  life?  Besides  his  mouth  was  good  as  any 
for  eating  or  talking  but  not  for  kissing.  So " 

"  Your  apology  is  accepted,  Sylvia."  The  young 
doctor  spoke  frigidly. 

"  The  same  to  you,  I'm  sure.  You  see  'twas  that 
mouth  what  made  Francie  notice  Ned  Cameron's. 
Ned's  is  just  lovely.  He  was  the  best  dancer  at  An- 
napolis before  he  failed  in  his  exams.,  and  Mr.  Perkins 
couldn't  even  pick  up  a  handkerchief  without  puffing. 
Sakes !  I've  talked  too  much  again !  But  I'll  say  this 
for  your  uncle,  Dr.  Kingston, — he  always  got  the  hand- 
kerchief. So  what  you  looking  so  mad  about?  " 

"  Pardon  me,  but " 

"  With  pleasure.  Still  you  can't  blame  France  for 
loving  Ned  best.  And  how  was  she  to  know  that  love 
wouldn't  last  for  always?  They'd  fooled  her  about  it. 
So  she  says,  be  careful  how  you  get  engaged.  If 


20  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

it's   for  money  or  if  it's   for  love,  it  all  turns   out 
wrong." 

"  Is  Miss  Faunce  at  home?  "  came  the  question  in 
a  voice  chilling  enough,  he  hoped,  to  end  these  unsought 
confidences. 

"  Yes,  she's  in,  and  will  be  down  as  soon  as  she  gets 
through  primping.  Did  I  mention  that  it  is  a  warm 
day?  I  forget  it  half  the  time.  It  looks  so  indifferent 
not  to  mention  the  weather  when  there's  company !  Say, 
you  look  awful  young  for  a  guardian ! " 

He  felt  young.     She  had  overwhelmed  him. 

"  This  is  my  first  attempt,"  he  murmured  uneasily. 

She  sank  back  in  despair. 

"  I  might  a-known  it !  I'm  always  the  first ! 
Mamma's  first  and  Papa's  first,  and  Mother  Brooks' 
first,  and  Mother  Gray's  first,  and  Steppie's  first,  and 
Francie's  first,  and  now  your  first !  " 

As  she  glibly  but  sadly  enumerated  his  predecessors, 
— naming  only  the  inexperienced  ones,  yet  counting 
a  guardian  for  nearly  every  year  of  her  short  life, — 
he  began  to  understand  why  he  was  to  be  so  richly  re- 
warded for  taking  charge.  This  child  wore  out  about 
a  guardian  a  year ! 

"  I  call  that  hard  luck,  Dr.  Kingston."  She  was 
speaking  of  her  own  trouble, — not  of  his.  "  If  I've  got 
to  have  a  Forester,  I  wish  I  could  get  one  with  a  little 
experience.  By  the  time  I  learn  one  of  'em  a  little 
sense,  another  comes  along  and  then  I've  got  to  start 
all  over  again !  " 

There  was  a  painful  lack  of  sympathy  in  his  bearing. 
The  good  impression  she  had  made  by  her  friendly 
greeting  had  been  talked  away,  and  he  thought  she 
needed  repressing. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  21 

"  I  hate  to  leave  Francie  now,"  continued  the  child 
wistfully.  "  Lately  she's  hardly  been  cross-eyed  at 
all." 

"Cross-eyed?"  he  exclaimed.  He  had  heard  that 
Miss  Faunce  was  beautiful. 

"  I'll  own  up,  Dr.  Kingston,  she  is  a  tiny  bit.  But 
cross-eyed  or  not,  she's  the  mother  God  raised  up  for 
me,  and  I  don't  want  to  trade  her  off  for  you !  " 

Affected  The  Greenwoods  might  be  as  a  rule,  but  she 
had  outbursts,  at  least,  of  great  naturalness. 

"  I  am  sorry,"  began  her  listener,  "  but " 

"  Me  too.  France  is  God's  own  miracle  what  I  worked 
myself,  and  I  want  to  keep  her." 

"  It  is  impossible,  though;  so  say  no  more " 

"  That's  what  they  said  when  I  adopted  her ;  girls, 
nuns  and  Faunces,  all  said  it.  France  just  giggled. 
They  said  she  was  too  young,  and  hadn't  come  to  the 
convent  to  be  my  mother ;  she'd  come  to  finish  her  edu- 
cation; and  I  would  be  a  care  and  expense  and  the 
Faunces  was  too  poor.  But  did  I  pay  'em  any  mind? 
No !  For  when  God  is  on  a  little  girl's  side,  nothing  is 
impossible ! " 

"  As  I  have  said  before,  or  tried  to  say " 

"  And  that  was  when  I  was  much  littler  than  now. 
Was  you  ever  at  a  convent  ?  " 

"  No,  my  dear,  but  as  I  was  saying " 

"  Be  thankful  then,  for  it  is  awful !     I  most  died !  " 

At  last  he  was  moved. 

"  Were  you  so  lonely,  dear  ?  " 

"  Not  lonely  so  much  as  little.  It  is  hard  to  be  the 
littlest  girl  with  just  big  girls  around.  And  no  one 
helped  me,  but  France." 

"  I  know  you  had  a  sad  time,  dear ;  and  while  I  can't 


22  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

grant  your  request,  I  promise  that  you  shall  never  be 
unkindly  treated  again." 

"  I  wasn't  unkindly  treated.     I  could  a-stood  that !  " 

"  Tell  me  the  trouble  then."  He  held  out  his  hand 
invitingly. 

"  Why,  the  girls  kissed  me  most  to  death !  " 

"Oh!" 

His  hand  fell  limply  to  his  side.  He  examined  her 
critically  to  find  the  charm.  She  seemed  to  him  just  a 
plain-featured  child,  who  talked  too  much ;  yet  every 
curl  upon  her  head  and  frill  upon  her  dress  bespoke  the 
love  that  some  one  bore  her ;  and  she  had  an  air  of  hav- 
ing always  been  admired. 

"  They  kissed  me  till  my  lips  wore  out.  They  gave 
me  candy  till  it  made  me  sick,  and  presents  till  I  had  no 
place  to  put  'em.  They  told  me  stories  till  I  knew  'em 
all  by  heart ;  and  called  me  sweet, — till  I  made  faces  to 
stop  'em.  And  then  they  said,  '  How  cunning ! ' : 

She  had  evidently  received  adulation  enough  to  last 
her  a  lifetime. 

"  So  I  prayed  for  a  mother  to  stop  that  lovingness, 
and  get  me  pretty  clothes.  The  sisters  was  sweet  ladies, 
— but  give  me  style!  I  'scribed  to  God  the  kind  of 
mother  I  wanted, — pretty  and  young,  with  brown  eyes, 
and  a  laugh  in  'em.  So  God  sent  me  France,  and  she 
was  it  exactly !  But  she  most  dropped  dead  when  I  told 
her  about  it !  " 

"  I  dare  say." 

"  She  thought  it  was  a  joke;  and  the  nuns  said  she 
was  no  miracle  at  all, — just  a  coincidence  what  hap- 
pened along  after  I'd  prayed  my  prayer;  and  the 
Faunces  said  'twas  ridiculous, — with  her  just  seven- 
teen! But  I  just  insisted, — and  here  I  am!" 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  23 

Robert  was  touched  by  her  fight  for  a  mother,  but 
she  talked  steadily  on  and  her  next  words  spoilt  another 
good  impression. 

"  Now,  take  my  word  for  it,  Dr.  Kingston, — God 
knows  best;  and  since  He's  decreed  for  her  to  be  my 
mother,  He  may  not  like  his  plan  changed." 

Robert,  unaccustomed  to  being  threatened,  grew 
firm  again. 

"  Taking  France  all  in  all,  she's  a  lovely  mother ; 
though  at  first  was  green  as  you.  We  know  each  others' 
faults,  you  see,  and  have  amalgamated  each  other  up. 
So  won't  you  please  leave  me  here  a  little  longer?  " 

He  was  affected  more  deeply  than  he  had  thought  it 
possible  to  be,  considering  that  The  Greenwoods  had 
wanted  a  mother  only  to  be  saved  from  love,  not  from 
loneliness ;  but,  since  he  felt  competent  to  save  the  child 
from  the  devotion  of  her  friends  and  to  buy  her  "  pretty 
clothes,"  he  refused  her  petition. 

"  I  am  sorry,  dear,  but  I  promised  my  uncle " 

"  He  was  my  guardian  the  same  as  you,  and  he  let 
me  stay." 

This  reminded  him  of  the  fatal  list,  which,  by  the 
addition  of  his  uncle,  now  numbered  eight. 

"  It  is  impossible,  Sylvia ;  so  say  no  more  about  it !  " 
He  spoke  with  an  air  of  finality, — an  air  that  impressed 
even  her;  but  she  bore  her  defeat  bravely. 

"All  right  then.  Foresters  don't  last  long,  any- 
how." 

Remembering  the  value  Mark  Perkins  had  set  upon 
one,  the  latest  addition  to  that  list  grew  apprehensive. 

"Who's  going  to  help  you  raise  me,  Dr.  Kingston? 
I  can  button  my  frocks, — but  they  don't  always  come 
out  even, — and  tie  a  bow;  and  my  hair  is  so  curly  it 


24  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

doesn't  need  much  combing, — if  France  wasn't  so  par- 
ticular. Can  you  darn  my  socks  and  wash  my  back?  " 

The  details  made  him  gasp. 

"  We  are  to  live  with  my  parents,  and  their  house- 
keeper, Mrs.  Burns,  will  help  with  such  things." 

"  Is  she  old  or  young?  " 

"  Rather  elderly,  but " 

"  Turn  her  off  then.  I  like  'em  experienced,  but 
young." 

"  You  will  like  Mrs.  Burns.     She  is " 

"  Most  old  ones  are  cranky.  But  maybe  she's  a 
grandmother.  Is  she  ?  " 

"  No,  but  still " 

"  Then  turn  her  off.  I  lived  with  an  old  woman  after 
Steppie  died, — the  old  woman  what  lived  in  St.  Louis. 
And  it's  like  Steppie  said, — '  You  can't  teach  old  women 
modern  methods.'  That  old  soul  actually  tried  the 
Solomon  racket  on  me !  Now  Solomon  was  right,  'cause 
he's  in  the  Bible,  but  he  meant  folks'  own  children, — not 
orphans.  Orphans  have  rights." 

It  was  too  early  in  the  acquaintance  to  refute  her 
theory,  and  besides,  Robert  was  getting  weak.  "  The 
old  woman  what  lived  in  St.  Louis  "  made  nine ! 

"  So  I  ran  away  to  a  lovely  farm  in  the  river  bot- 
tom, and  lived  with  Mother  Freidlander." 

And  Robert  counted  ten. 

"  But  the  old  woman  what  lived  in  St.  Louis  got  me, 
and  she  sent  me  to  the  convent." 

The  woman  referred  to  was  evidently  the  stepmother's 
mother  that  had  got  rid  of  the  child  and  kept  the  money. 
Robert  was  beginning  to  feel  that  there  was  some  ex- 
cuse for  her  behavior. 

"  Good  luck  to  her  ashes,  though !  for  at  the  convent 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  25 

I  met  France!  And  when  the  Faunces  wouldn't  have 
me, — said  they  couldn't  afford  another  daughter, — she 
wrote  to  Mr.  Perkins.  I  told  her  about  him  by  accident, 
— about  the  bad  striker  trying  to  kill  Mr.  Perkins,  and 
papa  saving  him,  but  getting  shot  instead.  And  Mr. 
Perkins  had  himself  made  my  guardian,  and  arranged 
about  the  expense,  and  let  France  keep  me,  like  I  wanted 
it.  Say, — do  you  believe  in  corporous  punishment?  " 

Warned  by  past  experience  with  her  various  mothers, 
The  Greenwoods  wanted  to  know  before  it  was  too  late. 
But,  far  from  commending  her  foresight,  Robert  was 
shocked  at  her  sauciness. 

"  Does  Miss  Faunce  know  I  am  here  ?  "  he  asked 
evasively. 

Something  in  his  eye, — something  like  a  red  light 
marking  a  danger  spot  in  the  road,  made  her  drop 
with  an  unpleasant  thud  into  little  girldom :  "  I — er 
— reckon  so.  Sambo  must  have  told  her.  He  minds  the 
door." 

"  He  wasn't  there  when  I  came." 

"  The  lazy  nigger !     We'll  have  to  fire  him  yet ! " 

Concluding  that  Dr.  Kingston's  disapproval  was  for 
the  servant,  she  recovered  her  jauntiness  and  smiled  her 
regret  at  the  misunderstanding. 

"  Maybe  you  forgot  to  ring?  " 

"  It  was  you  that  invited  me  in.  Didn't  you  tell 
Miss  Faunce  I  had  come  ?  " 

"  Why,  no !  I've  been  entertaining  you !  I  always 
entertain  her  beaux !  " 

"  Then  tell  her  at  once." 

Now,  since  Miss  Faunce's  debut  a  few  months  before, 
The  Greenwoods  herself  had  become  rather  an  impor- 
tant personage  in  society,  and  the  discriminating  among 


26  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

the  older  girl's  admirers  always  sent  the  younger  one 
flowers  or  sweets ;  consequently  The  Greenwoods  was  ac- 
customed to  being  treated  deferentially  by  the  opposite 
sex,  and  at  Robert's  command  she  stared  loftily  at  the 
representative  before  her. 

"  Sir? "  she  exclaimed,  with  the  hauteur  of  a 
tragedy-queen. 

"  Go  immediately,  Miss." 

"  Yessir." 

For  The  Greenwoods  had  seen  the  red  light  again, 
and,  with  another  amazed  thud  into  little  girldom,  she 
walked  slowly  and  meekly  from  the  room. 

The  struggle  for  conquest  had  begun. 


CHAPTER  III 

"  A  LOBSTER  is  down-stairs,  France,  and  wants  to  see 
you!" 

The  Greenwoods  entered  a  room  where.a  bewilderingly 
pretty  girl,  with  more  than  her  share  of  personal 
charm,  was  anxiously  studying  the  mirror. 

"  Don't  speak  so  horridly,  Woody  love.  Those 
Kingstons  will  say  I  haven't  taught  you  proper  man- 
ners. Is  he  pleasant?  " 

"  He  wouldn't  know  a  manner  if  he  met  it  in  the  road ! 
He  actually  snubbed  Belinda!  He's  no  young  gentle- 
man ;  he's  a  guardian !  " 

"  Oh  my !  Gentlemen  are  so  disappointing !  Isn't 
he  nice  looking?  " 

"  The  cross-eyedest  thing  on  earth !  And  you'd  bet- 
ter hurry,  Francie;  he's  been  hanging  around  down 
there  an  hour !  " 

With  a  startled  exclamation,  a  hasty  glance  at  the 
mirror,  and  an  unheeded  caress  of  The  Greenwoods' 
head  in  passing,  Miss  Faunce  hurried  to  meet  her  guest. 

Her  steps  lagged,  and  when  she  reached  the  hall- 
tree,  where  hung  the  visitor's  hat,  she  paused  and 
caught  her  breath.  The  hat  was  encircled  with  a  band 
of  crepe.  Poor  Mr.  Perkins !  He  was  dead.  He  had 
never  seemed  like  one  to  die  of  love,  and  pneumonia 
usually  goes  hard  with  fleshy  people, — but  who  could 
tell? 

She  had  never  grieved  for  her  elderly  admirer  before 
nor  blamed  herself  for  his  death,  because  almost  as  soon 

27 


28  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

as  she  had  heard  of  it  she  had  learned  that  he  had 
planned  to  separate  her  from  the  adored  Greenwoods. 
Since  he  had  reached  from  his  grave  to  strike  her,  she 
felt  exonerated  for  having  jilted  him.  But  then,  this 
was  the  first  visible  evidence  she  had  had  of  his  death. 

Poor  Mr.  Perkins !  She  had  treated  him  badly.  Per- 
haps he  had  thought  that  since  she  had  proved  untrue 
to  him,  she  might  tire  of  Woody  too.  He  hadn't  under- 
stood. She  had  tried  to  catch  him.  She  hadn't  thought 
it  wrong.  If  it  is  a  woman's  duty  to  marry,  it  is  surely 
right  in  her  to  try  to  do  her  duty.  As  she  viewed  that 
band  of  crepe  her  conviction  changed.  It  was  not  a  wo- 
man's duty  to  marry,  and  the  only  things  that  could 
possibly  justify  marriage  were  love  and  respect. 

And  on  reaching  that  point  in  her  thoughts  she  ar- 
rived at  the  door  of  the  drawing-room. 

Robert  had  been  forewarned,  but,  feeling  .immune 
against  a  cross-eyed  coquette,  had  thrown  his  armor 
away.  Yet,  when  he  heard  her  coming,  he  squared  his 
shoulders  for  the  interview  and  straightened  his  tie  for 
the  woman. 

She  entered, — a  queenly  young  figure,  radiant  with 
youth,  and  possessed  of  a  beauty  so  vivid  that  it  seemed 
alive.  And  her  eyes  were  straight !  So  were  his !  Oddly 
enough,  on  simultaneously  making  the  discovery,  both 
Miss  Faunce  and  Dr.  Kingston  were  disconcerted.  The 
Greenwoods  had  referred,  evidently,  to  their  mental 
vision. 

With  a  peculiar  admixture  of  emotions,  Frances  rec- 
ognized in  Robert  Kingston  a  younger  and  more 
slender  edition  of  her  former  lover.  It  was  as  if  Mark 
Perkins  had  returned,  with  the  same  appearance  of 
strength  and  power,  but  with — a  human  mouth!  And 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  29 

the  selfsame  blush  that  had  worked  havoc  with  the 
uncle  arose  beneath  the  nephew's  gaze. 

Her  head  was  poised  at  an  angle  that  her  enemies 
called  "  high  and  mighty,"  but  her  eyes  were  the  soft 
shade  of  brown  that  bespeaks  a  gentle  disposition.  Her 
head  commanded,  but  her  eyes  appealed;  and  between 
them  they  usually  got  her  all  she  wanted. 

Dr.  Kingston,  however,  refused  her  request.  Yet 
there  was  so  much  sympathy  in  his  glance,  so  much  ad- 
miration in  his  eye,  that  she  respected  the  strength  that 
resisted  her.  "  A  good  strong  man !  "  she  thought. 

"  But  can't  you  leave  Woody  with  me  until  you  are 
permanently  located?  " 

"  I  promised  my  uncle,  Miss  Faunce." 

"  But  must  The  Greenwoods  be  sacrificed  to  your 
promise?  Has  she  no  claim?  If  you  were  settled  in 
your  own  home,  Dr.  Kingston,  I  wouldn't  urge  you  to 
leave  her;  but  already  she  has  lost  the  dependence 
natural  to  childhood  and  is  as  self-reliant  as  a  woman. 
But  what  can  you  expect  from  one  with  so  large  an  ex- 
perience of  life?  She  has  known  nothing  but  change." 

"  Why?    Tell  me  about  it." 

"  She  lost  her  mother  in  infancy,  you  know,  Dr.  King- 
ston ;  and  her  father  was  an  army  officer.  It  seems  that 
he  was  always  being  moved  about;  naturally,  he  took 
his  daughter  with  him,  and  there  was  always  some  lady 
at  the  post  anxious  to  take  charge  of  the  attractive 
young  officer's  charming  little  girl.  Now  some  of  these 
"  mothers," — as  Woody  calls  them,- — spoilt  her  by  in- 
dulgence, some  by  severity,  while  some  were  over-at- 
tentive, and  some  neglectful.  From  comparing  one 
mother  with  another,  the  child  learned  to  think  for  her- 
self, and  soon  thought  she  knew  more  than  any  of  them." 


30  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

"  I  noticed  it,"  said  Robert. 

"  She  has  a  remarkably  sweet  temper  though,  Dr. 
Kingston,  but, — as  I  was  explaining, — has  no  home  at- 
tachments. In  fact,  I  am  the  only  person  in  the  world 
she  loves.  She  thinks  God  gave  us  to  each  other,  and 
if  you  part  us,  I  fear  the  effect  upon  her." 

"  Of  course  I  don't  want  to  do  anything  to  injure 
the  child,  but  from  my  conversation  with  her  I  imagine 
that  too  much  attention  has  been  paid  to  her  opinions 
already." 

"  As  is  only  natural  with  a  child  of  her  remarkable 
precocity,"  snapped  Frances. 

"  Er — exactly.  But  my  uncle  knew  all  the  circum- 
stances, and  made  the  arrangement  he  thought  best.  I 
promised  to  carry  it  out." 

"  But  he  had  Woody's  interests  at  heart.  He  didn't 
want  her  moved  from  pillar  to  post  any  oftener  than 
necessary.  A  little  girl  should  be  protected  from  the 
world,  not  forced  to  make  her  way  in  it." 

"  But  I  am  not  throwing  her  on  the  world.  I  am 
taking  her  to  my  mother's." 

"  No  doubt  an  excellent  place.  But  it  will  be  only 
one  more  stop  for  Woody.  By  the  time  she  adjusts 
herself  to  your  mother's  household  you  will  marry " 

He  gave  her  a  penetrating  glance,  which  she  met 
without  coquetry.  Her  thoughts  were  all  of  The  Green- 
woods. 

"  Then  she  will  have  to  adjust  herself  to  your  wife 
and  her  ways.  Is  it  treating  her  fairly  ?  " 

"  Considering  all  this,  Miss  Faunce,  why  didn't  my 
uncle  leave  her  with  you?  "  He  spoke  impatiently,  but 
in  self-defense. 

As  Frances  saw  it,  Mark  Perkins  had  either  thought 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  31 

her  unworthy  to  bring  up  the  child,  or  had  wanted  to 
punish  her, — through  Robert  Kingston, — for  her  treat- 
ment of  him. 

"  I  don't  care  to  discuss  Mr.  Perkins's  motives  with 
you,  Dr.  Kingston.  And  as  you  are  resolved  to  take 
The  Greenwoods,  there  is  no  more  to  be  said.  May  I 
write  to  her  occasionally?  "  Her  eyes  flashed,  and  she 
spoke  haughtily. 

Her  love  for  the  child  had  appealed  to  him,  and  now 
the  hot  young  scorn  in  her  voice  made  him  flush.  He 
humbly  begged  her  to  write.  He  went  even  further, — 
he  asked  permission  to  advise  with  her  occasionally 
about  The  Greenwoods. 

His  mother  would  disapprove,  but  Frances'  love  for 
the  child  had  convinced  Robert  that  the  young  girl  was 
not  unworthy,  and  he  wanted  to  remove  from  her  mind 
the  impression  that  his  uncle  had  been  prompted  by 
malice.  Frances  relented.  She  consented  to  advise  him 
and  began  at  once. 

"  I  don't  believe  you  will  have  any  trouble,  if  you  ap- 
proach Woody  in  the  right  spirit,  Dr.  Kingston;  for 
she  is  so  sweet  and  reasonable  that  she  will  meet  you 
half-way.  Don't  pay  too  much  attention  to  her  absurd 
ideas,  for  she  will  soon  outgrow  them, — and  it  won't 
do  any  good  anyway.  Then  a  hint  works  better  with 
her  than  a  command ;  for  she  is  willing  to  do  right.  You 
will  only  have  to  teach  her  what  is  right." 

To  Robert  this  sounded  as  if  life  would  be  one  long 
argument,  but  he  discreetly  kept  his  opinion  to  him- 
self. 

And  how  about  my  mother's  housekeeper,  Miss 
Faunce?  Sylvia  has  ordered  me  to  turn  her  off.  If 


32  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

you  knew  my  mother,  you  might  appreciate  the  diffi- 
culty." 

Frances  laughed  delightedly, — as  if  it  were  a  joke. 

"  Don't  worry  about  the  housekeeper,"  she  said, 
"  Woody  can  get  on  with  anyone." 

"  With  children  even?  "     He  was  thinking  of  Marie. 

"  With  them  especially.  They  adore  her.  She  is  so 
perfect." 

"  You  relieve  me.  And  now,  there  is  something  else. 
What  am  I  to  do  with  her  when  I  leave  home?  My 
mother  refuses  to  take  any  of  the  responsibility,  and 
won't  have  a  governess  on  the  place,  while  I  hardly  like 
to  leave  the  child  in  charge  of  the  servants." 

The  future  did  not  look  rosy  for  Woody,  but  Frances 
had  great  confidence  in  the  child's  power  of  winning 
love.  And  as  she  had  failed  to  change  Dr.  Kingston's 
purpose,  she  gladly  accepted  the  compromise, — which 
was  what  she  had  been  hoping  for  all  the  time. 

"  If  it  will  be  in  keeping  with  your  promise,  Dr. 
Kingston,  bring  her  to  me.  I  will  be  so  glad  to  have 
her;  and  the  thought  that  we  are  not  to  be  separated 
entirely  will  reconcile  her  as  well  as  me.  It  will  seem 
less  as  if  you  were  taking  her  away  from  me  than  as 
if  we  were  fellow-Foresters." 

She  blushed  again,  for  she  had  not  intended  to  men- 
tion those  Foresters.  It  was  mention  of  them  that  had 
caused  Mr.  Perkins's  first  gleam  of  sentimentality. 
Robert  was  looking  interested  too. 

"  Tell  me  about  the  Foresters.  Sylvia  alluded  to 
them, — but  I  am  not  certain  that  I  understand.  What 
are  they  ?  " 

"  Why  a  Forester  is  one  who  keeps  The  Greenwoods. 
It  is  an  awful  pun,  but  has  evolved  itself, — it  being  the 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  38 

only  name  that  includes  all  her  keepers.  Parents, — 
own,  step,  and  foster, — step-grandparents,  adopteds, 
guardians " 

He  stopped  her  in  dismay.  "  What  on  earth  becomes 
of  them?" 

"  Most  of  them  were  in  the  army,  so  they  moved  as 
fast  as  she  did.  Some,  I  am  afraid,  grew  tired, — there 
is  no  accounting  for  tastes,  you  know, — and  others 
died." 

"  Foresting  must  be  a  job,"  groaned  Robert. 
"  Stand  by  me,  Miss  Faunce.  And  may  I  impose  upon 
your  good  nature  at  once?  I  am  to  be  in  Washington 
a  few  days,  and  if — " 

"  Oh,  lovely !  And  you  will  leave  the  darling  with 
me?  How  kind!  And  as  Washington  is  no  near,  can't 
you  run  over  occasionally, — to  get  acquainted  with 
Woody.  I  will  feel  so  much  better  about  it,  if  you 
understand  her." 

His  mother  would  have  said  the  girl  was  laying  a 
snare  for  him,  and  even  he  wondered  a  little.  But  she 
seemed  to  be  thinking  only  of  the  child,  and  suppose 
she  were  playing  an  unusually  subtle  game, — why,  it 
was  a  game  for  two.  He  accepted  her  invitation. 

"  He  is  so  companionable,"  she  thought,  "  neither  old- 
fogyish,  like  Mr.  Perkins,  nor  kiddish,  like  Ned.  A 
good  strong  level-headed  man,  reasonably  young,  and 
with  a  human  mouth !  " 

And  for  some  reason  Miss  Faunce  blushed  again. 


CHAPTER  IV 

MEANWHILE  The  Greenwoods  was  cogitating  the  sit- 
uation upon  her  own  account.  Evidently  she  was  to  be 
torn  from  the  loving  arms  of  her  "  own  adopted," — 
which  was  sad  indeed;  but  she  was  not  a  child  for  idle 
repining. 

"  If  he  does  take  me  away  from  Francie,  I  shall  be 
an  orphan  again,  and  have  all  an  orphan's  rights,"  she 
thought. 

Back  in  the  convent  days,  before  Frances  had  come, 
The  Greenwoods  had  been  a  member  of  an  organization 
known  as  A.  Society  of  F.  I.  Orphans.  No  one  had 
suspected  that  there  was  a  secret  connected  with  it,  and 
it  had  evoked  the  sympathy  of  all. 

When  that  band  of  bright  young  orphans  had  filed 
by, — with  their  Bibles  and  their  hat-pins, — both  girls 
and  teachers  had  wept.  Relations  and  guardians,  in 
a  panic  of  remorse  for  possible  negligence,  had  sent 
checks  or  boxes,  and  the  F.  I.  Orphans  had  been  uni- 
versally feted. 

After  most  of  the  mischief  of  the  school  had  been 
traced  to  A.  Society's  door,  sympathy  had  waned.  An 
investigation  was  made,  after  which  the  organization 
met  an  unhappy  end. 

The  Amalgamated  Society  of  Free  and  Independent 
Orphans  had  been  organized  to  establish  their  indepen- 
dence, with  the  avowed  intention  of  putting  down  all 
guardians  and  teachers,  and, — incidentally,  it  seemed, 
— of  working  them  to  a  finish. 

34 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  35 

Of  an  impressible  age,  The  Greenwoods  had  taken 
seriously  the  doctrine, — impressed  on  her  by  the  big 
girls, — that  an  orphan  was  a  most  exalted  being,  with 
a  superior  claim  on  heaven,  and  privileged  (subject  to 
the  Bible's  limitations),  to  do  as  she  pleased  on  earth; 
and  she  believed  what  she  had  been  told. 

In  theory  this  was  fine  enough,  but  in  practice  she 
preferred  a  mother.  So  when  Frances  came  in  answer 
to  prayer  the  child  joyfully  sent  in  her  resignation  "  as 
an  orphan,"  and  consequently  knew  little  of  the  ex- 
tirpation of  the  heresy.  The  nuns,  fondly  hoping  that 
the  tenets  had  gone  over  the  child's  head,  said  nothing 
to  combat  them.  So,  while  she  had  renounced  her 
rights,  she  still  believed  in  them. 

Now,  since  these  rights  were  about  to  be  thrust  upon 
her  again,  she  was  preparing  to  uphold  them. 

"  How  did  that  Declaration  start  ?  "  she  wondered, 
"  I  ought  to  know,  for  I've  recited  it  often, — with  my 
hat-pin  raised,  to  show  I'd  fight  for  my  faith,  like  a 
Crusader.  The  words  in  it  was  perfectly  long  and 
lovely." 

Words  were  her  fad.  She  was  making  a  collection 
of  them,  and  daily  added  to  her  store  any  verbal  speci- 
men by  which  thought  might  be  expressed.  Sometimes 
she  used  her  long  words  correctly,  often  she  got  them 
wrong ;  but  her  verbal  memory  was  good.  Soon  she  re- 
peated,— with  tolerable  accuracy, — the  Declaration  of 
Independence  of  the  Amalgamated  Society  of  Free  and 
Independent  Orphans. 

"  All  Orphans  are  by  Divine  Providence  free  and  in- 
dependent, subject  to  no  authority  save  God's  alone. 
Teachers  and  guardians  are  our  natural  enemies ;  and  it 
is  our  duty  and  intention  to  strike  off  the  shackles  of 


36  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

these  tyrants  and  usurpers !  They  are  to  be  recognized 
and  obeyed  only  when  fancy, — or  -convenience, — bids. 
Blood  relations  may  be  treated  with  respect,  but  Guar- 
dians Must  Be  Put  Down !  " 

"  I  bet,"  chuckled  the  youthful  disciple  jubilantly, 
"  that  will  surprise  Dr.  Kingston  when  I  recite  it  to 
him.  I'm  glad  I'll  be  there  to  see  the  old  usurper's  face. 
Serve  him  right.  Old  cross-eyed  dog !  " 

She  grew  more  thoughtful. 

"  What  I'm  wondering,  though,  is  how  a  little  girl  no 
bigger'n  me  is  to  put  down  a  great  strong  man  like  him. 
And  how  she's  a-going  to  keep  him  down  when  once  she 
gets  him  there.  And  if  she  can't  keep  him  down  what 
is  a  dictatorious  animal  likely  to  do  about  it  when  he 
gets  up  again?  And  down  where  is  she  a-going  to  put 
him?" 


CHAPTER  V 

AFTER  his  second  visit  to  Miss  Faunce,  Robert  ceased 
to  rack  his  brains  as  to  why  The  Greenwoods  had  been 
left  to  his  bachelor  ministrations.  He  believed  (for  rea- 
son is  subordinate  to  will)  that  Mark  Perkins,  admiring 
Frances  to  the  last,  had  devised  this  ruse  for  binding 
her  destiny  with  that  of  his  favorite  nephew. 

He  also  thought  that  this  explained  why  The 
Greenwoods  had  been  left  penniless ;  since, — as  she  had 
informed  him, — "  The  Faunces  was  too  poor  to  afford 
another  daughter,"  they  would  make  no  effort  to  keep 
the  child  after  her  allowance  ceased. 

Yet  sometimes  reason  is  the  slave  of  fear;  and 
Frances  still  regarded  Bob  as  the  rod  of  Mark  Perkins's 
wrath.  She  liked  him  when  she  was  with  him,  but  when 
she  was  not,  suspicions  sprang  up  like  weeds. 

"  He  doesn't  love  me,  or  he  would  leave, — out  of  re- 
gard for  his  uncle's  memory  and  his  people's  dislike  for 
me.  He  knows  a  marriage  is  impossible,  yet  he  lingers. 
Is  he  trying  to  flirt  with  me?  " 

So,  full  of  indignation, — and  interest, — she  watched 
to  see  if  he  were  trying  to  flirt;  while  he,  scornful, — 
and  anxious, — waited  to  find  out  if  she  were  trying  to 
catch  him. 

Unaffected  by  this  little  tangle,  The  Greenwoods  re- 
mained serene  and  happy;  for  while  her  father  had  ne- 
glected to  instruct  her  in  the  traditional  spelling  of  her 
name,  he  had  taught  her  his  doctrine  of  happiness. 

37 


38  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

Captain  Forest  had  believed  that  happiness  was  the 
highest  lesson  earth  had  to  teach;  that  earth  was  the 
school,  in  fact,  and  heaven  the  place  for  the  graduates, 
while  hardships  and  privations  were  but  the  tests  to 
show  how  far  one  had  advanced.  For  her  religious 
duties,  he  had  given  her  a  rule,  the  golden  one ;  a  song, 
the  Jubilate,  and  a  prayer,  "  O  Lord,  teach  me  how  to 
be  happy." 

The  orthodox  will  believe  that  happiness  came  to  the 
little  orphan  left  stranded  alone  as  an  answer  to  prayer ; 
but  there  is  nearly  always  a  physical  reason  underlying 
even  a  spiritual  fact.  It  was  thus  with  Woody's  happi- 
ness. 

Floating  about  in  this  world  are  myriads  of  tiny  in- 
visible creatures,  so  small  that  a  whole  colony  can 
live  comfortably  upon  the  petal  of  a  rose.  Some  are 
kindly  disposed  toward  man,  and  come  to  him  with 
healing  on  their  wings,  while  others  work  for  his  un- 
doing. Always  these  little  presences  have  been  known, 
and  loved, — or  dreaded.  The  ancients  called  them 
fairies, — the  moderns  call  them  germs. 

Many  of  them  are  still  wild  and  free,  but  others 
have  been  caught  and  domesticated.  The  wise  men  of 
to-day  are  studying  their  habits,  and  know  certain 
formulas  by  which  the  good  may  be  attracted  and  the 
bad  repelled.  And  they  have  discovered  that  certain 
conditions  of  mind  and  body  attract  certain  kinds  of 
germs. 

So  The  Greenwoods,  with  her  doctrine  and  song  of 
happiness  and  her  daily  prayer,  unconsciously  formed 
in  her  system  that  condition  most  congenial  to  the 
merry  little  microbes  of  fun.  They  swarmed  about  her 
like  bees,  and  she  became  so  incurably  impregnated 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  39 

that  just  to  be  near  her  gave  an  ordinary  person  the 
giggles. 

They  led  her  into  many  a  scrape,  but  to  make  up  for 
it,  told  her  stories  when  she  was  alone,  put  songs  on 
her  lips,  funny  words  on  her  tongue,  curious  ideas  into 
her  head.  They  guarded  her  from  wicked  germs;  and 
when  they  could  not  keep  sorrow  from  her,  they 
wrapped  it  up  in  illusion. 

She  scattered  a  contagion  of  mirth  wherever  she 
went.  All  who  loved  fun  and  jollity  also  loved  The 
Greenwoods, — which  explains  the  infatuation  of  the 
convent  girls, — but  those  of  a  serious  turn  of  mind 
disapproved  of  her  entirely. 

Frances  was  nearly  heart-broken  over  losing  her. 

"  How  can  I  ever  get  along  without  you,  precious  ?  " 
she  asked  disconsolately.  "  I  had  hoped  you  were  set- 
tled for  life,  and  here  you  are  moving  again;  and  it  is 
all  my  fault!" 

"  Don't  you  bother  about  me  moving,  Francie  love ; 
I'm  used  to  moving.  But  if  you  get  lonesome,  Fll  show 
you  how  to  cure  it."  Woody  fumbled  with  her  friend's 
wrist,  while  Frances  kissed  Woody's  topmost  curl. 

"  There  it  is !  Put  your  finger  right  there,  Francie, 
and  you'll  feel  something  beating.  It's  your  pulse. 
And  every  time  it  beats  something  good  is  happening. 
Somebody's  going  to  heaven,  or  a  darling  little  baby  is 
born, — all  sorts  of  lovely  things.  Now  you  know  that 
with  all  those  good  things  a-happening,  something  good, 
something  good,  something  good  will  happen  to  bring 
you  and  me  together  again.  So  when  you're  lonesome, 
my  beautiful  adopted,  just  count  your  pulse  and  think 
it." 

All  too  soon  the  time  came  when  Robert  had  to  leave. 


40  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

Yet,  while  he  kept  his  promise  to  his  uncle  and  took 
The  Greenwoods,  he  did  not  humiliate  Frances  in  the 
eyes  of  a  watchful  world.  And  she  was  grateful. 

It  was  a  desolate  feeling,  though,  to  see  them  drive 
away,  The  Greenwoods  chatting  with  the  new  guardian 
as  if  only  out  for  a  ride.  Frances  wandered  listlessly 
about  the  house  that  seemed  so  empty  until,  finding  an 
abandoned  doll,  she  sat  on  the  floor  beside  it  and  wept. 

Then  remembering  Woody's  formula  against  the 
blues, — and  since  she  was  so  miserable  that  it  mat- 
tered not  how  ridiculously  she  behaved, — she  located 
her  pulse  and  counted. 

"  Something  good,  something  good,  something  good's 
a-happening,"  she  reiterated,  until  a  drowsy  feeling 
stole  over  her.  "  Something  good,  something  good, 
something  good's  a-happening,  to  bring  you  and  me  to- 
gether again." 

And  behold,  Robert  Kingston's  eyes  seemed  to  be 
looking  into  hers  with  sympathy. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THEY  were  seated  in  their  stateroom :  Robert,  ready 
to  begin  his  paper,  and  The  Greenwoods,  a  conversa- 
tion. His  prejudice  against  her  had  received  fresh  im- 
petus from  the  manner  of  her  parting  with  Miss  Faunce. 
It  had  seemed  to  indicate  a  callous  nature ;  and  he  liked 
a  child  to  have  some  feeling. 

"  Sylvia ! " 

"  Oh,  don't  call  me  Sylvia !  Sylvia  Forest  is  so  re- 
dundant! Sylvia,  living  in  the  woods;  Forest,  the 
woods.  Now,  if  there's  to  be  so  much  woods  about  it, 
call  me  Greenwoods." 

"  Sylvia  Forest  sounds  as  well  as  Greenwoods  Forest ; 
and  I  should  think  you  would  prefer  the  name  your 
father  gave  you.  He " 

"  Well,  I  don't  mind ;  And  papa  wasn't  finicky,  no- 
how. And,  say;  you  sent  me  a  picture  postal  from 
Washington, — for  which  I  thank  you  most  sincerely, — 
but  you  spelt  my  last  name  with  two  r's.  It  is  proper 
spelt  with  one.  Now  do  be  a  sensible  guardian  and  spell 
it  correct, — and  let  me  spell  it  correct.  Of  course  it 
is  a  surname,  but  I  am  particular.  I  spell  even  sur- 
names correct — when  I  know  how." 

"  That  is  most  praiseworthy,  my  dear.  I  will  re- 
member about  the  r's.  And  now,  Sylvia " 

"  Thank  you,  Dr.  Kingston.  And  call  me  *  Green- 
woods.' " 

"  If  you  really  wish  it.  But  this  is  a  good  oppor- 
tunity to  get  rid  of  a  nickname  that  otherwise  may 

41 


42  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

stick  to  you  for  life.  Sylvia  Forest  is  a  pretty  name, 
so  think  it  over  while  I  read  my  paper." 

"  'Tisn't  half  so  pretty  as  yours.  Yours  is  lovely ! 
If  you  have  no  objection,  sir,  and  won't  think  it  pre- 
cocious in  a  youth  of  my  age,  I  ask  the  privilege  of 
calling  you  by  it,  if  you  please." 

He  smiled.     "  By  all  means.     Call  me  Bob." 

"Bob!  What  should  I  call  you  Bob  for?  Your 
name's  Octavius  Cassar !  " 

"What  do  you  mean,  child?  Octavius  Caesar?  My 
name  is  Robert !  " 

"  That's  not  what  Edith  Wofford  said !  She  said  it 
was  Octavius." 

"  I  never  heard  of  Edith  Wofford !    Who  is  she?  " 

"  She  is  Frances'  enemy,  and  France  cut  her  out 
with  Mr.  Cameron." 

Robert  was  troubled.  Why  should  Miss  Faunce's 
enemy  call  him  Octavius?  What  possible  connection 
existed  between  him  and  the  old  Roman? 

"  I  don't  know  what  she  means." 

"  She  probably  fibbed.  Did  you  fix  Cloepatra,  Dr. 
Kingston?  " 

He  stared.    To  be  correct,  he  glared. 

"Who  is  Cleopatra?" 

"  You  may  search  me.  I  never  saw  him  in  my  life ! 
But  Edith  said  something  about  Cleopatra  being  mean 
to  old  Caesar,  and  that  you  came  to  Baltimore  to  get 
even  with  Cleopatra,  and  make  a  triumph  of  him. 
What's  wrong?  Did  you  bite  your  tongue?  " 

"No!" 

"  What's  up  then  ?     I  haven't  done  anything — yet." 

"  Be  quiet,  Sylvia.    I  want  to  think." 

"  You  bet  I  will,  Octavius.    You  look  mad  as  a  wet 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  43 

cat!  But  I  don't  blame  you, — I  bit  mine  once.  You 
can  forgive  the  hurt,  if  it  wasn't  for  the  shock.  Stick 
it  out;  it  looks  funny,  but  will  cool  it  off." 

"  Don't  call  me  Octavius !  The  most  ungallant  clam 
in  history!  I  hate  the  name!  Besides,  it  doesn't  fit." 

"  You  called  me  Sylvia  a  minute  since.  It's  a  clam, 
too." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon." 

"  The  pleasure's  mine,  I'm  sure.  France  doesn't 
like  that  name, — Octavius, — either.  When  I  told  her 
of  it  she  most  cried !  Oh,  Dr.  Kingston !  Did  you  bite 
your  tongue  again?  " 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  GREENWOODS  leaned  out  of  the  automobile  and 
regarded  her  new  home  with  lively  interest.  After  her 
experience  with  poverty, — genteel  and  otherwise, — it 
looked  like  a  summer  hotel  in  the  midst  of  a  park.  Yet 
the  point  that  caught  her  eye  was  a  group  of  four  oak 
trees  growing  in  the  ideal  position  to  form  a  playhouse 
for  a  little  girl. 

She  appropriated  it  upon  the  spot ;  then  she  thought 
of  Marie, — and  sighed.  Her  guardian  had  told  her 
about  Marie,  and  the  description  had  not  been  cheer- 
ful. That  was  Marie's  house,  of  course, — but  perhaps 
she  would  let  The  Greenwoods  play  in  it.  So  The 
Greenwoods  smiled  again. 

As  she  and  her  guardian  entered  the  hall  she  looked 
around  for  Marie  so  as  to  arrange  it,  but  Marie,  in 
dudgeon  at  the  invasion  of  her  territory,  had  departed 
for  a  week's  visit  to  a  married  sister.  The  housekeeper 
met  them,  for  Mrs.  Kingston  was  taking  her  usual  drive. 

Through  spacious  halls, — with  polished  floors  and 
frescoed  ceilings;  past  chandeliers  that  sparkled  like 
jewels;  seeing  through  half-opened  doors  wide  expanses 
of  mirrors,  handsome  paintings,  and  charming  statu- 
ary,— The  Greenwoods  followed  Mrs.  Burns  to  the  little 
cuddy  she  was  to  occupy  at  the  back  of  the  house, — 
near  the  housekeeper  and  the  other  servants,  who  were 
all  at  home.  The  Greenwoods  met  them  at  once,  and 
was  charmed.  They  began  from  the  first  to  influence 
her  diction. 

44 


45 

"  Land's  sake,  Dr.  Kingston,  this  is  a  pretty  house !  " 
she  exclaimed  after  she  had  dressed  for  the  evening  and 
was  going  with  him  to  meet  his  mother. 

He  frowned;  and  realizing  that  the  expression  was 
not  in  keeping  with  the  surrounding  elegance,  she  re- 
solved to  be  more  dignified.  Seven  stately  steps  she 
measured;  then,  remembering  that  she  had  some  splen- 
dour of  her  own,  forgot  and  asked :  "  Don't  I  look 
nice?  " 

He  thought  she  did,  but  it  did  not  accord  with  his 
ideas  of  discipline  to  tell  her  so.  Hence  he  made  no 
comment  on  her  finery,  but  taking  silence  to  mean  con- 
sent, she  strutted  in  natural  pride. 

"  Isn't  the  bow  pretty?  " 

"  Nothing  to  be  conceited  about." 

"  I  fully  agree  with  you,  Dr.  Kingston.  I  prefer  a 
red  one  myself,  because  my  hair  is  red,  and  I  like  things 
to  match.  But  France  says  I  should  wear  a  green  bow, 
because  I  am  The  Greenwoods.  So  I  wear  it  to  match 
my  name." 

"  It  is  very  becoming  indeed.  You  should  always 
wear  green." 

"  Thanks,  but  I  look  nice  in  nearly  everything.  Isn't 
the  dress  sweet?  " 

"  Why,  I  see  nothing  especial  about  it."  This,  too, 
in  the  interests  of  discipline. 

"  Huh !  It's  hand-made  and  hand-embroidered  just 
the  same,  and  trimmed  with  real  Valenciennes !  France 
made  it  every  stitch  herself,  busy  as  she  is  a-going  to 
parties  and  being  made  love  to !  And  you  don't  think 
it's  nothing  special?  Well,  just  look  at  the  under  side 
of  that  embroidery  and  see." 


46  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

He  bent  over  the  outheld  frock  in  awe.  "  Exquisite, 
my  dear.  What  lovely  work !  " 

"  So  glad  you  like  it,  Dr.  Kingston."  She  was  all 
coquetry  and  airs  again.  "  What  did  Marie  leave  for 
when  I  was  coming?  I  wanted  to  see  her  about  some- 
thing important." 

"  She  will  be  back  soon.  How  do  you  like  Mrs. 
Burns?" 

**  She's  a  perfect  duck !  Susie's  a  darling  too,  and 
the  cook's  an  angel !  " 

"  Greenwoods !  "  he  paused,  regarding  her  gravely. 
"  You  must  always  ask  permission  of  Mrs.  Burns  or 
myself  for  anything  you  want  to  do.  Never  of  my 
mother.  She  is  old  and  nervous " 

"Poor  thing!  Why  don't  you  treat  her  for  it? 
Won't  she  take  your  dope?  " 

"  What  she  needs  is  quiet  and  rest,  so  don't  worry 
her.  But  if  you  want  anything, — no  matter  what, — 
come  to  me  and  I  will  give  it  to  you.  And  when  you  are 
in  trouble,  come  to  me  and  I  will  help  you,  if  I  can. 
And  you  must  be  a  good  girl,  and  everyone  will  love 
you." 

"  They  will  love  me  anyway,  Dr.  Kingston.  And 
if  you  want  to  help  me,  just  keep  me  from  being  kissed. 
Kisses," — she  looked  up  with  an  air  of  erudition, — 
"  have  germs  in  'em,  and  germs  are  little  dead  bugs  what 
are  unhealthy  and  contagious.  So  please  tell  your  folks 
to  quit." 

"  I  don't  believe  they  will  annoy  you  in  that  way.'* 

"  Thanks  again  then." 

Having  previously  decided  upon  the  manner  of  her 
entrance  into  the  family  circle,  The  Greenwoods  now 
dropped  behind  her  guardian,  and,  catching  her  skirts 


"THE  GREENWOODS'*  47 

with  the  tips  of  her  fingers,  held  them  outspread,  as 
she  tripped  daintily  down  the  steps  and  out  into  the 
grounds,  where  the  family  was  gathered  enjoying  an 
unusually  balmy  day.  She  created  a  sensation. 

She  was  formally  presented.  Mrs.  Kingston, — a 
thin,  distinguished-looking  woman  in  black,  with  iron- 
gray  hair,  a  slender  nose,  and  the  Perkins  mouth, — gave 
The  Greenwoods  a  tepid  smile,  a  limp  handshake,  and 
hoped  she  had  had  a  pleasant  trip. 

The  Greenswoods,  who  was  fully  alive  to  the  mo- 
mentousness  of  meeting  the  mistress  of  this  stately 
mansion  and  who  was  ceremonious  herself, — in  spots, — 
mirrored  back  the  formality  in  her  most  grandiose 
style,  as  she  replied : 

"  Thanks,  we  had  quite  a  pleasant  trip,  Mrs.  King- 
ston. The  weather  was  warm,  and  it  looks  like  summer 
has  come  to  stay.  But  I  am  fond  of  traveling  under 
any  circumstances,  and  am  most  pleased  to  make  your 
acquaintance." 

At  this  Mrs.  Kingston  was  disconcerted.  Whatever 
kind  of  germs  lived  in  her  cells,  they  were  certainly  not 
fun  germs,  but  germs  of  a  sober,  solemn  nature.  They 
disapproved  of  the  frivolous  little  microbes  attendant 
upon  The  Greenwoods  as  strongly  as  did  the  lady  herself 
of  that  gay  young  interloper. 

The  Greenwoods  was  always  at  her  best, — or  worst, — 
at  meeting  strangers;  probably  because  of  the  activity 
engendered  among  her  especial  kind  of  germs  at  meet- 
ing those  of  another  species.  There  was  always  a 
battle  for  the  mastery.  This  battle  had  now  begun. 

Scenting  mischief  in  the  air,  the  college  youth  beside 
Mrs.  Kingston  straightened  up,  alert  with  interest. 


48  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

Colonel  Kingston  held  out  his  hand  and  cordially  hoped 
The  Greenwoods  would  be  happy  in  her  new  home. 

"  Thank  you,  Colonel  Kingston.  I  am  always  happy, 
so  I  shall  continue  to  be  so  here ;  but  I  appreciate  your 
kindness.  Wayville  is  a  pretty  little  town ;  smaller  than 
Baltimore,  of  course;  but  I'm  fond  of  the  country.  I 
hope  you  will  be  happy  too." 

She  had  taken  her  cue  from  Mrs.  Kingston,  and  was 
living  up  to  the  mahogany  wainscoting  and  the  cut- 
glass  chandeliers.  Mrs.  Kingston,  who  had  never  be- 
fore been  mimicked  to  her  face,  sat  straight  and  stiff; 
Colonel  Kingston  took  off  his  glasses,  polished  them, 
and  putting  them  on  again,  inspected  this  remarkable 
baby-looking  creature  in  amazement,  but  Chester  felt 
as  if  he  had  met  a  friend  in  a  foreign  land. 

He  had  been  standing  awaiting  his  turn  to  meet  his 
brother's  prodigious  little  ward,  feeling  that  he,  at 
least,  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  Bowing  with  a  flour- 
ish that  would  have  outdistanced  the  greatest  gallant 
of  the  old  school,  he  expressed  his  undying  delight  at 
making  Miss  Forest's  acquaintance. 

She  gave  him  a  regular  dancing-school  courtesy,  and 
murmured,  "  Thanks." 

Ignorant  of  her  wide  experience  in  meeting  strangers, 
all  were  dumbfounded  save  Mr.  Chester.  He,  thor- 
oughly charmed,  seated  her  by  his  side,  possessed  him- 
self of  her  fan,  and  opened  a  flirtation  that  lasted  in- 
definitely. 

She  had  given  herself  up  to  this  new  game, — for 
that  is  all  this  change  in  her  environment  was  to 
Woody, — and  was  pleased  with  everything.  Here  were 
a  distinguished  lady,  with  manners  in  keeping  with  her 
house;  a  kind-hearted  old  gentleman,  not  quite  so  cere- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  49 

monious  as  he  might  have  been,  considering  his  interest 
in  this  palatial  mansion,  but  who  evidently  meant  well; 
a  guardian  who  needed  to  be  put  down,  it  is  true,  but 
who  was  forgiven  his  gruffness  because  of  his  home  sur- 
roundings, and  a  young  gentleman,  who  was  no  guardian 
at  all,  but  a  young  gentleman  in  truth  and  in  deed. 

Absorbed  in  her  pastime,  and  pruning  herself  with 
airs  and  graces,  she  and  her  fun  germs  had  taken  pos- 
session of  the  premises  and  were  gradually  bringing 
the  smiles  even  to  the  unwilling  lips  of  Mrs.  Kingston 
when,  looking  up,  she  saw  the  only  creature  that  she 
dreaded  in  all  the  universe, — a  boy. 

"  This  is  my  young  brother  Walter,  Greenwoods," 
said  Robert;  but  she  sat  speechless  with  dismay. 

So  the  boy  crossed  the  turf  and  made  the  first  ad- 
vance,— thereby  giving  the  spectators  a  double  sur- 
prise. For  the  unexpected  subsidence  of  The  Green- 
woods' airs  impressed  them  in  only  a  less  degree  than 
did  Walter's  emergence  from  his  bashfulness.  Because 
of  the  general  despicableness  of  his  little  sister,  his 
scorn  for  girls  was  equal  to  The  Greenwoods'  con- 
tempt of  boys. 

With  sublime  rudeness  he  ignored  them  all,  or, — to 
his  mother's  shame, — was  loud  and  bearish  in  his  dis- 
approval. Yet  he  was  prepared  to  like  The  Green- 
woods. He  thought  he  knew  what  her  status  v.  ould  be 
in  the  household;  was  aware  that  no  one  had  wanted 
her  to  come,  and  that  even  Bob  considered  her  a  nui- 
sance to  be  rigidly  suppressed.  He  knew  that  Marie 
intended  to  make  the  intruder's  life  miserable,  and  that 
his  mother  was  blind  to  all  rights  but  Marie's. 

Having  read  stories  of  neglected,  uncared-for  or- 
phans, his  chivalry  was  aroused  at  the  prospect  in  store 


50  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

for  this  one,  and  he  had  resolved  to  help  her  all  he 
could. 

From  a  safe  distance  he  had  watched  her  appear- 
ance, and  instead  of  the  tears  and  shyness  he  had  ex- 
pected, she  had  "  put  on  the  best  little  free-show  "  he 
had  ever  seen.  She  might  be  a  match  for  Marie  after 
all !  Her  diffidence  at  his  approach  had  not  displeased 
him  either.  To  think  of  her  having  held  her  own  with 
his  mother  and  having  trembled  before  him, — just 
Walter.  Oh,  a  delightful  little  girl !  The  first  he  had 
ever  wanted  to  know,  because  she  was  the  first  that  had 
ever  tried  to  avoid  him. 

The  Greenwoods,  however,  was  not  enjoying  the  en- 
counter. It  was  the  lonesome  time  of  day,  and  now  she 
remembered  that  she  was  far  from  Frances, — and  con- 
fronted with  a  boy !  Why  hadn't  Dr.  Kingston  warned 
her  about  that  boy,  instead  of  wasting  so  much  time 
over  Marie? 

When  they  went  in  to  dinner  the  boy  sat  opposite 
her.  So  she  said  nothing, — and  when  The  Greenwoods 
was  silent  she  was  sr.d.  Mr.  Chester  offered  her  a  penny 
for  her  thoughts. 

"  I  was  just  a-wishing,"  she  spoke  distinctly,  "  that 
France  was  here." 

"Who,  Miss  Forest?" 

And  everybody  listened  for  the  reply. 

"  France, — Frances  Faunce." 

Colonel  Kingston  frowned  at  this  obnoxious  re- 
minder, and  Mrs.  Kingston  sat  erect.  Robert's  loiter- 
ing had  only  sunk  Miss  Faunce  lower  in  the  general 
esteem;  the  disapproval  now  shown  was  for  his  benefit. 

"  I  should  like  France  to  visit  us,"  said  Woody,  "  I 
'spect  she'd " 


"THE  GRP:ENWOODS"  51 

"  Suppose  we  postpone  the  subject  until  later,  my 
dear." 

"  By  all  means,  Mrs.  Kingston.  But  why?  "  And 
The  Greenwoods  turned  her  face  toward  her  hostess  in 
calm  surprise.  There  was  a  self-possession  in  her  man- 
ner that  made  Mrs.  Kingston  restive.  Instead  of  the 
helplessness  of  childhood,  it  seemed  as  if  some  power 
disguised  as  a  child  were  taking  her  to  task. 

"  Children,"  said  Colonel  Kingston,  "  should  not  ask 
questions." 

The  Greenwoods  turned  that  same  direct  gaze  on 
him.  He,  too,  recognized  it  as  a  force,  but  not  as  an 
unfriendly  one. 

"  But  France  was  my  late  adopted  mother.  She  is 
the  loveliest  lady  in  the  world !  Why  is  it  wrong  for 
me  to  wish  for  her?  " 

"  It  is  not,  my  child.     I  beg  your  pardon." 

"  I  grant  you  grace,"  said  Woody. 

Later  Mrs.  Kingston  met  that  look  again.  Dinner 
was  over,  and  the  boy  had  disappeared. 

"  Now,  I'm  a-going  to  see  that  house,"  said  The 
Greenwoods  as  she  skipped  away. 

Mrs.  Kingston  followed  in  alarm.  Could  this  dread- 
ful, impertinent  child  mean  Marie's  house? 

"  You  must  not  go  near  Marie's  house,  my  dear," 
she  remonstrated,  "  Marie  doesn't  like  to  have  her 
things  meddled  with.' 

"Then  I  won't  meddle  with  them.  I  thought  The 
Four  Oaks  was  her  house  as  soon  as  I  saw  it,  and  'n- 
tended  asking  her  about  it,  but  she  isn't  here.  Where 
will  my  playhouse  be,  Mrs.  Kingston  ?  " 

It  was  then  that  Mrs.  Kingston  received  that  full- 
orbed  inquiry  again  that  reminded  her  so  unpleasantly 


52  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

of  "  the  powers  and  principalities  "  of  Scripture.  She 
was  not  deceived  by  the  child's  frivolity,  but  saw  that 
The  Greenwoods  was  one  to  reckon  with. 

"  Oh,  the  four  oak  trees !  You  may  play  there. 
Marie  doesn't  care  for  it  at  all.  We  have  something 
better  for  Marie.  Her  playhouse  is  at  the  other  side 
of  the  yard, — up  in  the  big  elm  tree.  You  may  look  at 
it,  if  you  wish ;  but  don't  go  near  it." 

"  Thank  you  quite  much,  Mrs.  Kingston.  It  is 
lovely,  I'm  sure ;  but  I  won't  have  time  even  to  look  at 
it  to-night.  I  want  to  see  the  Four  Oaks  first,  and  de- 
cide how  much  furniture  to  unpack.  I  am  anxious  to 
get  settled, — and  moving  is  such  a  j  ob !  " 

"  Very  well,  Sylvia.  But  don't  litter  up  the  yard 
with  your  things.  When  you  are  moving  your  toys 
in  and  out  always  use  the  side  door, — or  take  them 
around  the  back." 

And  The  Greenwoods,  with  that  unchildlike,  experi- 
enced stare,  seemed  to  measure  her  hostess  again. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

"  How  would  you  like  to  go  riding  with  me  this 
morning,  Greenwoods  ?  "  asked  Robert  kindly. 

It  was  the  next  morning  at  the  breakfast  table,  and 
the  child  had  been  silent  and  preoccupied. 

"  I'm  sorry,  Dr.  Kingston,  but  I'm  afraid  I  won't 
have  time.  I  have  to  see  about  my  unpacking;  and  I'm 
in  a  hurry  to  get  settled  down  to  housekeeping.  I 
haven't  had  a  good  spell  of  it  since  we  made  our  debut. 
Then  this  is  such  a  lovely  place !  There's  so  much  fun 
to  be  had  here,  I  hardly  know  where  to  begin." 

Colonel  Kingston  and  his  wife  smiled  their  appre- 
ciation at  this  tribute  to  their  home,  which  their  chil- 
dren, somehow,  had  never  seemed  to  care  for. 

"  Then  I  want  to  poke  about  all  over  this  pretty 
place.  There  are  things  all  over  it  to  play  with." 
Mrs.  Kingston  looked  alarmed.  "  And  I  want  to  go 
fishing  in  that  fountain."  This  time  Robert  looked 
fearful,  and  she  saw  it.  "  Now,  Dr.  Kingston,  you 
needn't  be  getting  excited.  I  do  hope  you  won't  be  a 
nervous  guardian!  I  had  one  once." 

At  the  mention  of  her  numerous  guardians  he  al- 
ways grew  pensive,  so  now  he  neglected  to  reply.  She 
gazed  at  him  severely.  "  You  needn't  be  afraid  of  me 
a-drownding.  Why,  I  used  to  go  down  to  the  Missis- 
sippi River  every  morning, — to  wash  my  feet."  Mrs. 
Kingston  gave  a  horrified  start,  and  Walter  a  delighted 
one.  "  And  I've  caught  fish  most  as  big  as  you !  So 

53 


54  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

what's  the  use  in  getting  scared  over  a  fountain  and  a 
sardine?"  Colonel  Kingston  chuckled;  he  too  was 
fond  of  fishing. 

"  And  I  want  to  skate  on  that  nice  smooth  floor  out 
in  the  hall."  Robert  glanced  at  his  mother  reassur- 
ingly, and  just  in  time.  "  France  told  me  the  skating 
was  good  up  here,  but  I  s'posed  I  should  have  to  wait 
till  winter  for  it." 

The  existence  opening  up  before  the  Kingstons 
seemed  rather  strenuous ;  but  with  each  item  mentioned 
for  killing  time  Walter's  approval  deepened,  while  his 
grin  grew  wider.  This  was  no  Marie!  This  was  the 
one  girl  in  all  the  world !  Still, — poor  kid ! — she  had 
a  lot  to  learn  about  the  Kingstons. 

"  Decidedly,  Greenwoods,  you  must  go  with  me,"  said 
Robert.  "  Perhaps  I  can  help  you  to  decide  what  not 
to  do." 

"  Certainly,  if  you  insist,  Dr.  Kingston.  But  I 
make  it  a  rule  never  to  put  off  till  to-morrow  what  I 
can  do  to-day;  so  don't  keep  me  long.  I  used  to  go 
riding  every  day  in  St.  Louis, — in  a  milk  wagon." 

Mrs.  Kingston's  indignation  waxed.  Had  she  known 
of  these  low  tastes  and  associates,  the  child  should  never 
have  been  allowed  to  come, — not  even  for  Robert's 
sake,  especially  since  he  had  been  three  days  in  fetch- 
ing her!  Marie  was  to  be  considered. 

"  That's  how  I  got  acquainted  with  the  Friedland- 
ers.  Father  Friedlander  used  to  let  me  ring  the  bell 
and  hold  the  horses,  while  he  measured  out  the  milk  and 
garden  truck."  She  turned  to  the  aristocratic  Mrs. 
Kingston,  with  a  friendly  smile.  "  I  wish  you'd  'a 
known  Mother  Friedlander,  Mrs.  Kingston;  you'd  'a 
been  such  good  friends.  She  was  so  sweet  and  lovely, — 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  55 

and  could  milk  four  cows  before  breakfast!    Oh,  you'd 
'a  loved  her !  " 

That  finished  the  breakfast. 

Robert  had  been  waiting  five  minutes  for  The  Green- 
woods, which, — as  everyone  who  has  ever  been  ac- 
quainted with  a  man  knows, — is  a  preposterously  long 
time.  A  man's  time  is  precious,  and  a  waiting  man  is 
dangerous.  He  wanted  to  leave  the  child,  but  as  the 
main  object  of  the  ride  was  to  have  a  talk  with  her,  he 
decided  to  wait.  Then  he  honked.  The  time  had  come 
to  lay  down  the  law,  and  he  was — waiting.  He  sent 
his  chauffeur  for  her,  then  he  sent  the  butler,  then — 
continued  to  wait. 

His  youngest  brother  came  out,  offered  to  accom- 
pany him,  and  on  being  refused,  encouraged  him  as 
best  he  could.  His  mother  came  out  too,  and  frowned. 
She  hoped  (audibly)  that  he  was  not  going  to  spoil 
the  child, — and  now  was  the  time  for  an  understanding. 
Then  his  father  came  out,  stared  at  him  waiting,  and 
asked : 

"What's  wrong,  Bob?  Machine  out  of  fix  again? 
I  told  you  not  to  get  that  make." 

"  The  machine  is  all  right,  thank  you,  Father." 

"  Then  why  are  you  waiting?  " 

"  What's  the  use  of  hurrying?  " 

Colonel  Kingston  stepped  into  his  car,  motioned  to 
his  chauffeur  to  start,  and  gave  this  parting  warning: 
"  Oh,  none ;  but  don't  wait  too  long.  Never  put  off  till 
to-morrow  what  you  can  do  to-day !  " 

Robert  smiled — and  waited.  His  patience  was  re- 
warded though,  for  presently  The  Greenwoods  came. 
He  had  known  she  would  all  the  time, — if  he  only 


56  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

waited  long  enough.  She  was  dressed  as  she  had  been 
at  breakfast,  except  that  she  had  on  a  hat.  Belinda, 
elaborately  attired,  was  in  her  arms.  Robert's  reason 
pointed  to  that  attire  as  the  cause  of  the  delay.  He 
had  been  waiting  for  the  doll. 

Reforming  The  Greenwoods  was  so  stupendous  an 
undertaking  that  it  seemed  best  to  ignore  the  delay  and 
to  begin  at  the  doll. 

"  Sylvia,  you  cannot  take  your  doll." 

"  Belinda  would  en j  oy  it,  Dr.  Kingston.  She's  fond 
of  motoring,  and  hasn't  had  many  rides  since  France 
busted  up  with  Mr.  Perkins  and  sent  our  runabout 
back." 

Robert  flushed.  "  Put  your  doll  down,  Greenwoods, 
and  get  into  the  car." 

"  Poor  Belinda !  It  seems  a  pity  after  I  took  so  long 
to  dress  her.  I  won't  ask  you  to  hold  her,  like  I  did 
on  the  train,  or  even  to  give  the  suffering  child  a  cap- 
sule!" 

"  You  jcan't  take  her,  so  leave  her  and  get  into  the 
car." 

"  Not  even  under  the  seat !  " 

"  No,  neither  now  nor  any  other  time.     So " 

"  Of  course  not  any  other  time.  I  don't  want  to 
take  her  any  other  time, — just  this  time.  You'll  be 
good, — won't  you,  Belinda?  " 

"  Don't  make  me  speak  again !  " 

A  savage  look  was  in  his  eye.  She  saw  it,  and  for 
the  first  time  also  saw  the  boy.  For  some  reason  she 
lost  her  nerve ;  the  boy  took  the  unction  to  himself. 

"  All  right.  If  you  don't  want  her,  she  won't  go ! 
So — wait  a  minute !  " 

And  she  was  off  again.     Before  he  could  object  she 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  57 

had  reached  The  Four  Oaks,  where, — after  consoling 
Belinda,  and  promising  to  bring  her  back  some  candy, 
and  kissing  her  good-by,  and  placing  her  carefully  in  an 
up-stairs  room,  known  to  the  unimaginative  as  the  forks 
of  a  tree, — she  locked  up  the  house,  and  returning  in 
love  and  charity  with  all  the  world,  jumped  into  the 
car. 

"  Now  we're  ready.  Let  her  go  !  Please  let  me  honk ! 
France  did  all  the  time.  This  is  a  nice  car,  Dr.  King- 
ston. What's  the  make?  Lovely  weather  too,  but 
rather  warm  for  June.  Have  you  your  pills  and  doses 
with  you?  " 

"  Greenwoods " 

"  Yessir.  An  auto  must  be  lovely  for  practising 
medicine.  Do  you  honk  for  your  patients  or  go  in  to 
them?  Say, — I  never  take  medicine  myself.  Does 
Marie  take  hers  like  a  little  man,  or  does  she  act  like 
she's  got  some  sense?  " 

"  Be  quiet  one  minute,  please." 

"  Certainly.    But  what  for?    Isn't  this  a  joy  ride?  " 

"  No ;  I  brought  you  to  give  you  a  few  instructions 
in  regard " 

"  I  already  know  'em — by  heart.  I'm  not  to  worry 
your  mother,  or  to  bother  Marie's  things."  She  looked 
up  suspiciously.  "  What's  the  matter  with  Marie's 
things  anyhow?  Are  they  diamonds  or  smallpox?  " 

"  Oh,  she's  just  particular  about  them,  so  don't 
touch  them.  But  if  she  has  anything  you  want,  tell 
me,  and  I  will  get  you  something  like  it." 

"  France  says  it's  not  polite  to  ask  for  things ;  and 
I  always  try  to  be  polite." 

"  It  is  perfectly  proper  for  you  to  ask  me." 

"  Thanks.     But  I  think  I  shall  ask  her  about  it." 


58  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  And  in  the  meantime  just  let  me  know  if  you  want 
anything." 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall.  I've  got  so  much  already. 
People  give  me  so  much."  She  glanced  up  inquiringly. 
"  What  makes  'em,  you  reckon,  instead  of  to  some  little 
girl  what  really  needs  it?  " 

He  remembered  that  she  was  entirely  dependent 
upon  him  and  felt  an  unexpected  gush  of  tenderness. 
Still,  in  offering  to  supply  her  wants,  he  believed  he 
had  fulfilled  his  duty.  He  was  generous,  but  neither 
observant,  approachable,  nor  very  thoughtful;  and 
manlike,  he  thought  she  would  ask. 

"And,  Woody " 

"Yessir?" 

"  If  anyone  is  unkind  to  you  or  tries  to  impose  upon 
you," — he  was  thinking  of  his  mother,  but  could  not 
tell  her  so, — "  you  must  tell  me." 

"  Nobody  will.  Folks  are  always  lovely  to  me.  If 
you  will  just  'tend  to  the  kissing,  Dr.  Kingston,  I'll 
'tend  to  the  rest." 

"  We  Yankees  don't  kiss  much,  Woody,  so " 

"  That's  nice.  Yankees  have  lots  more  sense  than 
they  get  credit  for.  I've  been  surprised." 

He  laughed,  and  found  he  was  beginning  to  like  The 
Greenwoods  after  all.  Still  the  law  was  to  be  laid  down. 

"  And,  Woody,  I  want  you  to  do  something  for  me." 

"  I  shall  be  pleased." 

"  Then  you  must  never  leave  the  premises  without 
my  consent  or  Mrs.  Burns's;  nor  handle  any  of  my 
mother's  things ' 

"  Is  she  particular  too  ?  " 

"  Yes,  very, — and  nervous ;  so  you  must  be  careful." 

"  I  will.     Poor  thing !     I  believe  I've  noticed  it." 


"THE    GREENWOODS"  59 

"  So  don't  touch  anything  that  isn't  yours,  nor  talk 
too  much  in  the  presence  of  your  elders " 

"  No,  sir.     It  will  get  you  into  trouble  every  time." 

"  Nor  play  in  the  fountain,  nor  skate  on  the  floor ; 
and  never  tease  Marie  nor  quarrel  with  her." 

"  Is  that  all?  "  She  had  been  listening  attentively, 
and  the  list,  had  seemed  so  long  and  inhospitable, — 
even  to  him, — that  he  wondered  if  she  could  be  sar- 
castic. ' 

"  For  the  present,  yes." 

"  Well,  that's  good.  I  was  afraid  you  was  a-going 
to  tell  me  not  to  slide  down  the  bannisters.  And  they 
are  grand  for  sliding !  " 

"  Good  heavens,  child !    You  musn't." 

"  Well,  I  won't,  then," — calmly, — "  I'm  awful  scared 
you  are  a-going  to  be  a  nervous  one.  Why,  I've  not 
slide  down  bannisters  before !  " 

"  Indeed?    You  are  very  obliging.'' 

"  You're  quite  welcome.  I  don't  mind  a  bit.  There's 
lots  of  other  things  to  do ;  so  why  should  I  mind  about 
those?" 

"  Oh,  Lord !  "  groaned  Robert.  And  it  sounded  like 
a  prayer. 


THEY  stopped  before  a  substantial  building  of  brick 
and  stone.  It  was  the  hospital  that  Mark  Perkins  had 
given  his  nephew, — an  institution  that  was  a  school  of 
research  as  well  as  a  house  of  healing, 

Robert  got  out  and  was  met  by  a  young  man  of 
serious  aspect. 

A  low-toned  conversation  ensued,  a  few  broken 
phrases  of  which  reached  Woody's  ear.  The  young 
man,  seeing  the  horrified  expression  upon  her  animated 
little  face,  became  even  more  lugubrious, — in  outward 
seeming, — and  approached  the  car. 

"  Is  this  your  little  Wilderness,  Kingston,  of  whom 
we've  heard  so  much?  "  he  asked. 

"No,"  laughed  Robert.  That  laugh  chilled  The 
Greenwoods  to  the  bone.  "  It  is  The  Greenwoods,  and 
the  half  has  not  been  told.  Let  her  entertain  you  while 
I  am  gone.  You  will  find  it  worth  your  while.  Be  a 
good  girl,  Woody." 

"Yes,  sir;  I  will,"  said  Woody.  She  spoke  in  tones 
of  the  deepest  veneration  and  respect,  and  Robert  en- 
tered the  building. 

The  Greenwoods  gazed  into  the  eyes  of  the  serious 
young  man,  and  he  gazed  sadly  into  hers  as  she  put  the 
question : 

"  What  is  he  a-going  to  do  ?  " 

"  Didn't  you  hear  ?  Kingston  has  a  vile  temper ! 
Poor  Johnson !  "  The  speaker  was  one  of  those  ill- 

60 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  61 

advised  persons  that  delight  in  teasing  children,  wot- 
•  ting  not  of  the  harm  they  work. 

"  I  thought  he  said  he  was  a-going  to  cut  Mr. 
Johnson's  arm  off !  " 

"  Kingston  is  a  dangerous  man !  " 

"  But  he  was  laughing  when  he  went  in." 

"  Oh,  Bob  doesn't  mind.     It's  not  his  arm." 

"  What's  he  a-going  to  cut  it  off  for?    Is  it  broke?  " 

"  No,  it's  like  this,  you  see.  Johnson  said,  *  You  are 
a  liar,'  and " 

"  He  didn't  no  such  thing !    He  never  even  saw  me  I  " 

"  He  didn't  say  it  to  you." 

"  Who  did  he  say  it  to  then?  " 

"  Who  is  going  to  cut  off  his  arm  ?  " 

"  Dr.  Kingston !     I  don't  believe  it !  " 

"  You  heard  what  he  said." 

"  That's  not  why,  though.  He  wouldn't  cut  it  off 
for  that;  he'd  knock  him  down." 

"  But  he  had  no  right  to  knock  him  down.  That  is 
against  the  law.  But  he  has  a  license  to  cut  off  arms. 
So  you  had  best  be  careful." 

"What  is  a  license?" 

"  Permission  from  the  government.  Kingston  has 
permission  from  the  government  to  cut  off  arms  and 
fingers  and  ears  and  toes  whenever  he  thinks  best.  I'm 
glad  he's  not  my  guardian ! " 

"  I  don't  believe  it.  I  don't  believe  one  word  of  it ! 
So  there!" 

"  Ask  him  yourself,  then." 

"  I  shall.     But  I  just  knov  it  isn't  true." 

"  Come  on,  then,  and  let's  see  the  guinea-pigs.  Don't 
worry  about  your  toes.  If  you  are  a  good  girl,  per- 
haps he  won't  cut  them  off." 


62  "THE  GREENWOODS  :J 

"  He  won't  anyway." 

Nevertheless  it  was  a  grave  and  thoughtful  child 
that  Dr.  Kingston  found  waiting  for  him  when  he  re- 
turned. She  had  never  known  anyone  who  cut  off  toes 
as  a  punishment, — except  (and  that  was  the  ear)  the 
negro  cook  at  the  Faunces'.  He  had  cut  off  his  wife's 
ear,  and  Sambo  had  said  she  deserved  it ;  but  they  were 
niggers.  Yes,  but  the  doctor  was  a  Yankee ;  and  hadn't 
some  one  told  her  that  Yankees  considered  themselves 
no  better  than  niggers?  Why,  just  look  at  the  awful 
things  Yankees  had  done !  They  had  killed  Goldilocks' 
grandfather  and  three  of  his4  brothers ;  and  burnt  up 
Sister  Faunce's  mother's  house  and  made  kindling  of 
Daddy  Faunce's  piano ! 

Still, — so  ran  the  child's  thoughts, — that  was  during 
the  war,  when  there  was  fighting.  Yes;  but  it  was 
soldiers  that  fought  in  the  wars,  and  her  papa  was  a 
soldier,  and  he  never  did  things  like  that;  nor  Bush, 
nor  Sargeant  Cuddy,  nor  the  nice  fat  general  that  had 
given  her  the  ring.  It  was  not  because  they  was  soldiers 
but  because  they  was  Yankees,  thought  The  Green- 
woods. Soldiers  were  lovely,  and  when  they  went  to 
war  they  fought  politely,  with  blank  cartridges,  and 
never  hurt  a  soul  or  scared  'em ! 

Just  look  at  Yankees'  manners  too !  A-making  The 
Greenwoods,  who  was  a  visitor,  give  up  to  Marie,  who 
was  at  home!  No  wonder  they  cut  off  people's  toes; 
they  were  likely  to  do  anything!  .What  had  Francie 
meant  by  letting  her  come  to  such  a  barbarous  coun- 
try? Massachusettes !  The  very  name  was  ominous; 
mash  and  chew  and  et!  France  had  not  been  able  to 
help  herself,  though!  But  she  must  have  known  about 
this  country  and  that  was  why  she  had  felt  so  bad  about 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  63 

The  Greenwoods'  coming.  Still,  concluded  The  Green- 
woods very  sensibly,  I  don't  believe  he  will  do  it,  for 
folks  are  always  nice;  and  I  haven't  made  him  mad, — 
yet ;  so  I  shall  ask  him  and  see. 

"  Dr.  Kingston,"  inquired  a  deferential  little  voice, 
"  have  you  a  license  to  cut  off  arms  and  suchlike?  " 

"  Yes ;  do  you  want  me  to  perform  an  operation  for 
you?  "  he  smiled. 

"  Oh,  gracious,  no ! "  His  reply  was  all  that  she 
had  feared,  but  his  smile  was  reassuring.  She  was, 
however,  still  of  two  minds  on  the  subject.  "  Did  you 
ever  cut  off  an  arm?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  replied  shortly,  for  the  discussion  was  not 
suitable  for  a  child,  and  he  disliked  her  morbidness  in 
holding  to  it. 

"  Did  you  ever  cut  off  a  little  girl's  arm,  Dr.  King- 
ston?" 

"  No,  I  never  have." 

"  Would  you  do  it  now?     A  little,  bitty  girl's?  " 

"  Of  course, — if  it  were  necessary."  With  masculine 
lack  of  intuition,  he  had  no  idea  of  her  suspicions  and 
failed  to  see  the  big-eyed  terror  of  her  face. 

"Mine!" 

'*  Don't  be  silly,  Greenwoods !  I  hope  there  will 
never  be  occasion;  but  if  I  thought  it  best  for  you,  I 
shouldn't  hesitate." 

Then  followed  a  dead  silence  of  two  minutes'  dura- 
tion, which  at  last  was  ended  by  the  question  in  a  voice, 
weak  and  trembling :  "  Was  Mr.  Johnson's  arm  broke, 
Dr.  Kingston?" 

"  No.  And  now  you  have  talked  enough,  Green- 
woods ;  so  be  quiet !  " 

She  was  quiet, — and  discouraged,  for  every  road  led 


64  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

to  an  amputation;  he  constantly  confessed  his  guilt. 
But  hope  spurred  her  on  to  seek  extenuating  circum- 
stances. Her  eye  lighted  upon  a  questionable-looking 
package, — a  medicine  case  in  reality  containing  some 
drugs  he  required  for  his-  private  use, — but  remember- 
ing the  cook's  fate,  The  Greenwoods  grew  suspicious. 
It  might  be  razors ! 

"  Dr.  Kingston,  did  you  use  a  razor  this  morning?  " 
A  razor  had  been  used  for  chastisement  by  the  cook's 
husband,  but  surgeons,  she  knew,  had  other  instruments. 

With  a  stroke  of  his  smooth-shaven  cheek,  he  replied 
that  he  had.  Her  last  hope  was  gone.  Surely  he  would 
not  have  cut  off  the  man's  arm  with  a  razor,  if  he  had 
had  the  man's  interest  at  heart.  No,  the  act  had  been 
done  in  vengeance. 

She  decided  to  make  assurance  doubly  sure ;  then  for 
action. 

"  Dr.  Kingston,  I  mean  no  harm,  and  beg  your  par- 
don for  interrupting  your  discourse,  but  will  you  please 
tell  me  what  a  brute  is." 

**  Certainly,  Greenwoods.  A  brute  is  a  dangerous 
animal." 

"  O  Lordy !  "  thought  the  Greenwoods. 

France  had  called  the  cook's  husband  a  brute  and 
had  also  said :  "  If  Dr.  Kingston  takes  you  away  from 
me,  darling,  he  will  be  a  brute."  And  he  had  come 
and  taken  The  Greenwoods  away.  France  must  have 
known  of  his  toe-cutting  proclivity. 

Presently  they  halted  before  a  store  and  Dr.  King- 
ston went  in.  A  boy  was  passing  and  the  Greenwoods 
saw  her  chance. 

"Little  boy,"  she  called  in  tones  low,  but  vibrant, 
"  do  you  want  to  make  a  dollar?  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  65 

The  little  boy  did. 

"  Then  take  this  satchel,  and  run  as  fast  as  you 
can !  "  And  she  gave  him  the  medicine  case. 

He  took  the  money  and  started  with  the  case,  but, 
being  an  honest  chap,  came  back  again,  stopping  The 
Greenwoods  just  as  she  had  headed  in  the  opposite  di- 
rection. No  wonder  she  hated  boys!  She  gazed  at 
him  in  scorn  and  despair. 

"  Where  shall  I  take  it?  "  he  asked. 

"  To — to — the  depot,  of  course,  you  goose !  And 
be  quick,  little  boy,  be  quick !  " 

He  was  just  as  quick  as  he  could  be  too.  Not  wait- 
ing to  watch  him,  The  Greenwoods  hastily  turned  a 
corner,  ran  a  block,  and  called  a  cab.  Climbing  up  on 
the  box  with  the  driver  she  ordered  him  to  take  her  to 
Mr.  Chester  Kingston's, — quick, — for  it  was  a  matter  of 
life  and  death!  Then  she  took  counsel  of  the  cabman. 

At  the  Kingston's  an  assembly  of  relations, — all 
women, — had  gathered  to  see  the  child  for  living  in 
the  house  with  whom  Robert  was  to  get  twenty  million. 
When  he  telephoned  that  she  had  disappeared,  a  hub- 
bub ensued,  and  surmising  that  she  had  been  kidnapped, 
all  rushed  to  the  lawn  to  find  a  trace  of  her.  They 
reached  it  just  as  she  arrived — on  the  box. 

She  was  still  apprehensive,  and  intended  to  stay 
where  she  was  until  she  had  an  understanding.  Ris- 
ing, she  addressed  the  assembled  family. 

"  I  just  want  to  know  about  my  toes.  A  knock- 
kneed  man  said  Dr.  Kingston  can  cut  'em  off  whenever 
he  pleases,  because  he  is  my  guardian.  This  gentle- 
man,"— she  motioned  to  the  cabman, — "  says  he  can't ; 
but  the  doctor  says  he  will.  Now  I  just  want  to  know 
if  you  folks  are  a-going  to  let  him !  " 


66  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"Robert  would  never  do  such  a  thing!"  gasped 
Mrs.  Kingston. 

"  He  said  he  would !  But  I  won't  stand  for  it ! 
any  old  red-headed,  bow-legged,  cross-eyed  dog  wants 
to  try  a  little  corporous  punishment,  the  low-down 
measly  tack  can  do  it !  I  don't  approve,  but  if  that's 
all  the  sense  he's  got,  I'll  try  to  put  up  with  it.  But 
he'd  better  not  cut  my  toes  off!  My  papa  was  a  sol- 
dier, and  I'll  tell  the  army  on  him !  " 

Those  who  had  come  to  see  her  out  of  curiosity 
were  perfectly  satisfied.  A  few  of  the  more  reasonable 
even  ceased  to  begrudge  poor  Bob  his  fortune.  Every- 
one laughed,  and  tried  to  explain,  all  at  the  same  time. 
At  length, — after  Mr.  Chester  and  Walter  had  both 
offered  to  fight  Bob  to  a  finish  for  the  preservation  of 
even  her  little  toe,  and  Mrs.  Kingston  and  Mother 
Burns  had  stood  surety  for  its  safety, — she  consented 
to  be  let  down. 

Yet,  even  while  they  were  petting  her  into  calmness, 
she  precipitated  another  bomb.  Remembering  the 
driver,  she  called  out  to  him  to  charge  her  ride  to  the 
credit  of  Frances  Faunce! 

Later  Mrs.  Kingston  expostulated  with  Robert  over 
the  incident  and  asked  him  to  forbid  the  child's  mention- 
ing the  hated  name  again. 

After  her  blunder  about  Frances,  though  she  failed 
to  understand  the  full  heinousness  of  it,  The  Green- 
woods joined  Mr.  Chester,  who  was  in  the  hammock. 
She  had  recovered  from  her  shock,  but  still  wanted  to 
be  with  people  that,  she  knew,  were  friendly.  Then, 
too,  she  was  in  need  of  help. 

Mr.  Chester  was  charming  indeed.  He  praised  her 
courage  and  presence  of  mind,  and  offered  to  explain 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  67 

to  Bob  just  why  she  had  left  so  suddenly.  He  remarked 
that  she  was  a  delightful  little  girl,  and  that  he  loved 
her. 

"  Thanks,  Mr.  Chester,"  she  murmured,  "  I  recipro- 
cate your  feeling,  and  appreciate  your  kind  opinion; 
but  I  just  can't  marry  you." 

"  Oh,  Miss  Forest,"  he  gasped,  "  this  is  too  sud- 
den !  Could  you  not  have  waited  to  refuse  me  until  I 
had  asked  you?  " 

"  There's  no  use  a-waiting.  I  like  you  lots ;  but  time 
won't  help  us  any.  I'm  engaged  to  three  gentlemen 
already ;  and  by  the  time  I  marry  each  of  them  and  they 
have  died,  you  will  be  too  old." 

"  But,  my  dear  Miss  Forest,  I  haven't  mentioned 
matrimony." 

"  Of  course  not.  What's  the  use?  I'm  too  young 
anyway." 

"  Then  I  won't  insist." 

"  That's  right,  Mr.  Chester.  I  was  afraid  you  would 
grieve  about  it.  And  that  would  be  too  bad.  For  no 
matter  how  lovely  your  manners  are,  your  grandma  is 
dead.  So  a  marriage  is  impossible  between  us." 

Then,  like  a  gentleman,  Chester  yielded  to  the  inevi- 
table. He  buried  his  face  in  his  handkerchief  and  fell 
back  in  the  hammock,  trembling  with  emotion.  She 
regarded  him  uneasily  and  slipped  down  to  the  ground. 
Everything  was  going  wrong  this  morning,  and  now 
she  had  made  Mr.  Chester  cry. 

"  I'm  sorry,"  she  said,  "  as  sorry  as  I  can  be !  But 
what's  the  sense  in  marrying  a  gentleman  without  a 
grandmother,  when  the  grandmother  is  the  principal 
thing  you  are  marrying  the  gentleman  for?  " 

He  still  trembled,  and  she  thought  she  heard  him  sob. 


68  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

He  was  all  doubled  up,  and  the  hammock  fairly  shook. 
"Don't  cry,  Mr.  Chester,"  she  implored,  "I'll  ask 
France  to  marry  you.  She's  prettier  even  than  I  am, 
and  not  half  so  particular !  " 

Even  this  failed, — apparently, — to  comfort  him. 
This  was  the  first  time  she  had  ever  refused  him,  and 
it  was  a  melancholy  business ;  she  got  inured  to  it  after 
a  while  though,  and  didn't  mind  so  much. 

Plucking  a  half-opened  rose,  she  laid  it  on  his  breast 
to  show  her  sympathy,  then  sadly  walked  away.  Time 
might  help  him.  She  had  walked  only  a  few  yards 
when  she  saw  a  house  in  an  adjoining  lot  which  had  been 
pointed  out  to  her  as  her  guardian's  private  labora- 
tory. It  reminded  her  of  the  razors  and  of  her  need  for 
help.  She  gazed  wistfully  back.  Mr.  Chester  was  sit- 
ting up,  and  wiping  his  eyes, — cheerfully  almost !  He 
had  her  rose  in  his  lapel  too,  so  she  felt  encouraged 
and  returned. 

"  What  would  you  do  about  it,  if  you  were  me,  Mr. 
Chester,  and " 

"  Stop  bothering  about  grandmothers  and  marry 
anyway,  you  darling !  " 

At  the  reopening  of  this  sorrowful  topic,  she  started 
in  dismay. 

"  I  don't  mean  that.  We've  settled  that.  What  I'm 
worried  about  is  the  doctor's  razors !  Won't  you  help 
me?  I  would  marry  you  if  I  could." 

He  was  puzzled,  but  she  gave  him  a  full  and  free  ac- 
count, to  which  he  listened  in  delight. 

"  So  Bob  cut  off  the  man's  arm  with  a  razor,  did  he? 
A  wonderful  surgeon,  Bob !  " 

"  And  he  was  carrying  the  hateful  things  around 
with  him, — and  me  there,  scared  to  death !  Still,  since 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  69 

there's  no  danger, — of  toes,  exactly, — there's  no  use 
in  running  any  other  risk.  He's  still  a  guardian,  you 
know.  So,  Mr.  Chester,  if  you'll  be  so  ingratiating  as 
to  get  'em  back  again,  I'll  be  everlastingly  grateful  and 
obliged!" 

Chuckling,  he  left  in  pursuit  of  the  "  razors,"  and 
she  went  in  and  wrote  France  all  about  it. 


CHAPTER    X 

IF  Mark  Perkins  had  hoped  to  make  a  match  between 
Miss  Faunce  and  Robert  Kingston,  as  the  young  doctor 
fondly  believed,  he  could  not  have  selected  a  more 
energetic  assistant  than  The  Greenwoods.  She  had 
taken  charge  from  the  first,  and  continued  to  mix  things 
up. 

Both  of  the  Foresters  knew  that  there  were  serious 
obstacles  to  even  a  friendship  between  them,  and  under 
ordinary  circumstances  nothing  would  have  developed 
from  their  meeting.  Robert's  interest,  however,  was 
kept  alive  by  those  near-tears  the  beautiful  creature  had 
shed  over  his  name  being  Octavius.  He  wrote  her  a  long 
letter  the  very  night  he  got  home. 

Frances  received  the  letter ;  read  it  once,  twice,  three 
times ;  sighed,  then  tore  it  up  and  threw  the  pieces  into 
the  waste-basket.  Knowing  his  people  were  violently 
prejudiced  against  her,  she  had  no  intention  of  placing 
herself  in  a  position  to  be  snubbed.  She  intended  to 
answer  Robert's  letter, — after  she  had  waited  long 
enough  for  him  to  understand  that  it  was  for  Woody's 
sake  alone. 

She  reckoned  without  Cupid's  young  assistant.  By 
the  next  mail  The  Greenwoods'  letter  came.  This  was 
the  first  Frances  had  ever  had  from  her,  and,  being  new 
to  the  style,  she  failed  to  comprehend  it  fully. 

DEAR  FRANCE: 

I  was  awful  scared  this  morning.  I  thought  Dr.  Kingston 
was  going  to  cut  off  my  toes.  But  it  turned  out  that  the  man 
had  blood  poison  so  it  was  all  right.  I  don't  think  I  shall  have 

70 


«  THE  GREENWOODS  "  71 

to  stay  here  long  Francie  for  he  is  awful  nervous  and  will  go  to 
Heaven  soon  and  I  shall  go  back  to  you.  This  is  a  pretty  house 
but  a  boy  is  in  it  and  they  won't  let  you  skate  on  the  floor. 

Slightly  bewildered,  Frances  neglected  the  post- 
scripts for  the  time  being. 

"  '  But  it  turned  out  that  the  man  had  blood  poi- 
son— '  What  man  ?  "  Frances  grew  apprehensive. 
"  Surely  she  can't  mean  Robert  Kingston,  or  it  would 
not  be  all  right."  She  shuddered  and  repeated  the 
words :  "  '  I  don't  think  I  shall  stay  here  long,  Francie, 
for  he  is  awful  nervous  and  will  go  to  Heaven  soon  and 
I  shall  go  back  to  you.' ' 

That  "  he "  could  mean  but  one.  Oh,  poor  Dr. 
Kingston!  How  sad!  How  shocking!  It  was  no  jest 
about  The  Greenwoods'  guardians.  They  were,  indeed, 
unlucky!  Only  a  few  days  before  they  had  been  jest- 
ing about  them,  and  now  Robert  was  stricken.  Poor 
Robert ! 

Frances  thought  of  Robert,  who  was  so — so  every- 
thing a  man  should  be — and  with  tears  in  her  eyes 
turned  to  the  postscripts : 

P.  S.  1.    He  will  be  better  off. 

"  O  Woody !  How  can  you  speak  so  coldly  when 
he  is  suffering?  " 

P.  S.  2.    Ain't  you  glrvd  I  did  not  lose  my  toes  ? 

Frances  answered  Robert's  letter  immediately.  She 
offered  to  keep  The  Greenwoods  for  him  till  he  recov- 
ered, and  was  most  sympathetic.  There  was  a  re- 
ception that  afternoon,  and  a  dance  that  night;  but 
she  sent  regrets  to  both.  How  could  she  make  merry 
when  her  fellow-Forester  had  blood  poison? 

Robert's  mystified  reply  changed  her  grief  to  indig- 


72  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

nation.  So  he  had  not  been  ill  at  all,  and  she  had  made 
a  fool  of  herself  by  grieving  for  him.  His  second  letter 
was  ignored. 

However,  he  wrote  again.  He  wanted  to  know,  since 
Miss  Faunce  had  promised  to  advise  him,  if  The  Green- 
woods were  in  the  habit  of  telling  fibs, — like  that  blood- 
poison  story, — and  what  he  must  do  about  it. 

There  was  nothing  for  Frances  to  do  but  write  and 
remove  the  imputation  from  Woody's  character;  and 
by  the  time  the  mystery  of  Robert's  illness  had  been 
cleared  up  the  fellow-Foresters  had  formed  the  habit  of 
writing  to  each  other. 

This  was  just  as  well,  for,  under  The  Greenwoods' 
manipulations,  forgetting  was  impossible.  She  talked 
of  one  and  wrote  of  the  other;  and  while  her  descrip- 
tions were  not  always  rose-colored,  they  were  usually 
thought-compelling. 

Yet  nothing  was  further  from  her  mind  than  making 
a  match  between  the  Foresters.  She  merely  told  the 
facts. 

MY  PRECIOUS  FRANCIE  : 

I  took  lunch  to-day  with  Miss  Ardelia  Wile's  mamma.  She 
is  a  beautiful  young  lady  and  speaks  lovely  words.  The  doctor 
was  there  too.  He  is  there  a  great  deal.  They  are  to  be  mar- 
ried. I  told  you  something  good  would  happen.  Now  see. 
Marie  is  still  away.  Such  manners  !  I  hear  she  is  different 
from  me  and  don't  want  her  things  touched.  The  Boy  is  not 
so  bad  but  I  am  still  being  careful. 

Lovingly, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

Miss  Faunce's  next  epistle  to  Dr.  Kingston  was  most 
distant,  but  The  Greenwoods  wrote  again. 

DARLING  FRANCIE  : 

The  young  ladies  here  gush  worse  than  at  th«  convent,  and 
kiss  just  awful.  The  doctor  is  no  good  at  stopping  them,  so  I 
wish  him  and  Miss  Ardelia  would  marry  quick.  Or  the  Widow. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  73 

Her  girl  is  my  age  and  sweet.  Susie  say  she  is  after  his  money 
and  is  ahead  for  look  out  for  Widows.  But  Mrs.  Malley  says 
the  Missus  always  gets  her  way  so  the  bets  are  on  Miss  Ardelia. 
Me  and  Susie  are  good  friends  and  I  go  visiting  with  her.  Me 
and  Mrs.  Malley  are  good  friends  too  and  she  is  learning  me 
how  to  cook.  Me  and  Mrs.  Burns  are  good  friends  too  and  she 
lets  me  keep  the  house. 

Fondly  yours, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 
P.  S.    She  is  the  cutest  little  fat  thing  you  ever  saw." 

There  is  safety  in  numbers,  but  Frances  was  wor- 
ried. It  was  so  difficult  to  tell  who  the  cute  "  little  fat 
thing  "  was.  So  she  mailed  the  letter  to  Robert  and 
sweetly  asked  to  be  set  right  about  it.  She  also  in- 
quired,— just  to  satisfy  her  curiosity, — whether  the 
widow  who  was  after  him  was  Mrs.  Malley,  Mrs.  Burns, 
or  Susie.  Frances  drew  his  attention  to  Susie's  hon- 
esty, in  admitting  she  was  after  his  money,  and  recom- 
mended her  to  his  favor. 

And  Robert  reflected  unpleasantly  that  The  Green- 
woods was  fully  as  conversant  with  his  love-affairs  as 
she  had  formerly  been  with  those  of  Frances;  and  was 
even  giving  the  impression  that  his  mother's  maid  was 
trying  to  catch  him,  and  that  he  was  making  love  to 
the  cook. 


CHAPTER  XI 

"  '  O  be  joyful  in  the  Lord,  all  ye  lands : 

Serve  the  Lord  with  gladness,  and  come  before 
His  presence  with  a  song.' " 

THE  GREENWOODS  was  singing.  Marie  had  come 
home,  too.  The  dreadful  Marie,  against  whom  The 
Greenwoods  had  been  warned,  until  her  name  seemed 
odious.  "  Don't  touch  that,  it's  Marie's,"  had  become 
a  familiar  injunction, — as  familiar  as  that  other  say- 
ing :  "  You  are  so  different  from  Marie !  "  While  only 
the  night  before,  Dr.  Kingston  had  instructed  The 
Greenwoods  never  to  quarrel  with  Marie. 

"  Who  will  keep  her  from  quarreling  with  me,  Dr. 
Kingston?" 

"  You  will.    It  takes  two  to  make  a  quarrel." 

The  F.  I.  Orphan  straightened  up. 

"  I  am  an  orphan,  Dr.  Kingston.     And " 

She  got  no  further,  for  ignorant  that  this  was  the 
preamble  of  her  Amalgamated  faith,  Robert  placed  her 
tenderly  upon  his  knee. 

"  I  won't  allow  Marie  to  impose  upon  you,  dear ; 
for  you  are  my  little  girl,  and " 

"  No,  sir,  I'm  not.  I'm  papa's  little  girl, — and 
God's." 

She  was  supercilious  about  her  heavenly  connections, 
and  had  no  notion  of  being  degraded  from  her  high  es- 
tate. So,  rather  stunned  at  this  rejection  of  his  over- 
ture, Robert  repeated  his  command  and  dismissed  her. 

74 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  75 

" '  Be  ye  sure  that  the  Lord  he  is  God ; 

It  is  he  that  hath  made  us,  and  not  we  ourselves^ 
We  are  his  people,  and  the  sheep  of  his  pasture. ' 

Now  Marie  had  come  and  The  Greenwoods  was  sing- 
ing. It  was  the  song  her  father  had  taught  her,  and 
had  followed  her  through  all  her  homes  like  a  trail  of 
glory. 

"  '  O  go  your  way  into  his  gates  with  thanksgiving, 
And  into  his  courts  with  praise  ; 
Be  thankful  unto  him,  and  speak  good  of  his  Name."* 

Marie  was  beautiful.  Her  hair  was  soft  and  dark 
and  becomingly  bobbed;  her  traveling  dress  was  ex- 
quisite; her  smile,  timid  and  beseeching.  She  had 
thrown  her  arms  around  her  mamma's  neck  and  had 
kissed  her  twice.  So  glad  was  this  dainty  fairy  prin- 
cess to  get  home  that,  except  for  a  shy  little  nod,  she 
had  not  noticed  The  Greenwoods,  but  had  gone  up-stairs 
with  her  maid  to  remove  the  stains  of  travel.  The 
Greenwoods  was  waiting  for  her  in  the  swing. 

"  '  For  the  Lord  is  gracious,  his  mercy  is  everlasting  : 
And  his  truth  endureth 
From  generation  to  generation. ' ' 

"  No  wonder  they  say  she  is  different  from  me," 
thought  The  Greenwoods.  "  They  must  have  meant  my 
red  hair  and  freckles.  [Well,  I  must  be  sweet  to  make 
up  for  my  freckles,  for  she  will  have  to  look  at  'em. 
That  is  why  Dr.  Kingston  is  so  crazy  for  me  to  act 
pretty.  It's  these  freckles  and  *  Pretty  is  as  pretty 
does.' " 

As  she  reached  this  conclusion  Marie  returned,  look- 
ing more  beautiful  than  ever.  She  was  greeted  with  a 
smile,  but  stared  in  silence.  At  length  she  spoke. 


76  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  That's  my  swing,  Sylvia." 

Once  a  boy  had  given  The  Greenwoods  a  rose  to 
smell,  and  in  its  fragrance  she  had  found  a  pin.  Now 
she  remembered  it.  Marie's  face  was  like  a  flower,  but 
there  was  a  pin  in  her  soul.  Yet,  because  of  the  beauty, 
The  Greenwoods  forgave  the  prick. 

She  abdicated  with  royal  courtesy. 

"  Get  in  then,  and  let  me  swing  you.  Did  you  have  a 
pleasant  trip?  " 

Marie  had  been  slightly  taken  aback  by  The  Green- 
woods' civility,  but  being  accustomed  to  submissiveness, 
and  having  been  led  to  expect  it  from  the  orphan,  she 
was  more  pleased  than  abashed.  She  did  love  unselfish- 
ness in  others.  Few  children  were  unselfish, — which  was 
why  she  disliked  them.  They  wanted  Marie  to  give  up 
half  the  time.  Sylvia  seemed  to  be  above  the  average, — 
because  of  her  friendlessness  and  poverty  perhaps, — 
but  it  was  just  as  well  to  let  her  know  who  owned 
Marie's  papa's  house,  and  Marie's  papa's  yard,  and 
everything  about  Marie's  papa's  place.  It  might  save 
trouble  in  the  future.  At  best,  it  would  be  bad  enough 
having  another  girl  around,  but  Marie's  mamma  and 
brother  had  promised  to  help;  so  maybe  between  them 
all  they  might  keep  this  orphan,  without  money  or 
loved  ones,  from  being  a  nuisance.  Yet,  while  both  had 
promised  to  help,  her  brother  Bob  had  said: 

"  I  hope  you  will  be  kind  to  her,  Marie,  and  treat 
her  as  if  she  were  your  own  little  sister." 

"  I'll  try  to,  Robbie,"  she  had  answered,  "  but  I  have 
two  sisters  already,  and  brothers  and  parents  and  un- 
cles and  aunts  and  nephews  and  nieces  and  cousins ;  so 
I  don't  really  need  any  more  relations." 

He  had  laughed  but,  remembering,  answered  gravely : 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  77 

"  But  she  does.  She  is  a  poor  little  orphan,  with  no 
home,  no  money,  no  one  to  love  her." 

And  Mrs.  Kingston's  refrain  had  been: 

"  Don't  worry,  darling ;  if  she  annoys  you,  we 
will  send  her  away;  but  remember  that  she  has  no  one 
to  love  her  or  help  her  but  us.  So  we  must  be  kind  to 
her." 

The  Greenwoods  kept  on  swinging  Marie,  and  the 
time  seemed  long. 

"  Swing  me  higher,"  Marie  had  said.  "  Can't  you  run 
under." 

And  Woody  had  "  run  under  "  till  her  arms  grew 
weary,  but  Marie  was  so  pretty  that  The  Greenwoods 
hated  to  stop.  Mrs.  Kingston  saw  her  industry  from 
an  upper  window  and  directed  the  married  daughter's 
attention  to  it. 

"  What  a  little  witch  Marie  is,  Ellen !  It  is  wonder- 
ful how  she  turns  every  one  around  her  finger.  I  had 
expected  trouble  over  that  swing,  for  Sylvia  had  be- 
come so  attached  to  it.  They  may  be  congenial,  after 
all.  Robert  is  an  excellent  disciplinarian !  " 

And  Mrs.  Kingston  honestly  believed  that  the  or- 
phan's behavior, — surprisingly  good  so  far, — was  due 
to  Robert's  discipline,  and  her  obligingness,  to  Marie's 
diplomacy. 

The  Greenwoods  was  still  swinging  Marie.  Marie 
was  getting  a  free  swing,  but  was  changing  from  a  fairy 
princess  to  an  ordinary  selfish  girl.  The  magic  spell 
had  vanished,  and  The  Greenwoods  had  decided  that  it 
was  no  slander  to  be  called  "  different  from  Marie." 
When,  hot  and  tired,  she  at  length  seated  herself  on 
the  bench  around  the  tree  trunk,  the  metamorphosis 
was  complete. 


78  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  She's  not  a  princess  and  she's  not  a  girl,"  The 
Greenwoods  thought  disgustedly.  "  She  is  just  a  pig!  " 

And  Marie  knew  not  that  she  had  fallen. 

"  What  made  you  stop  ?  "  she  asked.  Marie  intended 
to  help  brother  Bob  control  the  orphan,  so  frowned 
in  displeasure. 

"  I  am  tired." 

"  Well," — graciously, — "  you  may  rest  a  bit  before 
swinging  me  again." 

This  remark  was  so  extremely  piggish  that  The 
Greenwoods  snickered.  Usually  Marie  was  as  sensitive 
as  a  flower,  but  knowing  that  she  held  the  upper  hand, 
she  grinned.  The  fact  that  had  impressed  itself  upon 
Marie  was  the  orphan's  helplessness.  The  Greenwoods 
noted  that  grin  with  interest ;  never  before  had  she  seen 
so  pretty  a  face  so  displeasing. 

"  You've  got  to  swing  me  when  I  wish,"  reminded 
Marie,  "  And  you've  got  to  obey  my  Brother  Bob !  I 
don't  have  to  obey  anyone." 

"  Me  neither.    I'm  an  orphan." 

"  That's  nothing  to  brag  about!  It  just  means  that 
you  haven't  any  one  to  love  you,  and  no  money,  and 
no  home." 

"  I'm  afraid  you  don't  read  your  Bible,  Marie.  God 
loves  me,  and  my  home  is  a  beautiful  little  villa  beside 
the  Crystal  Sea  in  Heaven.  I  try  not  to  brag,  but  I  am 
proud  of  being  an  orphan,  for  it  shows  that  God  knew 
I  had  sense  enough  to  raise  myself.  So  I  am  free  and 
independent, — subject  to  no  authority  save  His  alone." 

Marie's  eyes  opened  wide.  This  was  not  exactly  the 
sort  of  orphan  her  mother  had  prepared  her  for.  Mrs. 
Kingston  had  fooled  Marie;  but  then  Mrs.  Kingston 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  79 

herself  had  not  suspected  that  the  orphan  was  amalga- 
mated. 

"  My  brother  said  you  had  to  obey  him !  " 

"  What  nerve !    Why,  I'm  a-going  to  put  him  down." 

"  You're  no  such  thing !  And  you  do  obey  him,  too. 
Mamma  told  Sister  Ellen  so.  You  started  out  with 
all  sorts  of  mischief;  and  he  gave  you  one  talking  to, 
and  not  another  word  have  you  said  about  catching  the 
goldfish,  or  skating  on  the  floor,  or  playing  with  the 
bric-a-brac !  " 

"  That's  not  obedience,  silly ;  that's  politeness.  I  am 
a  polite  person.  My  mamma's  an  angel,  and  so  is  my 
papa.  I'm  angel  on  both  sides,  and  all  my  kin-folks  are 
angels;  so  I've  got  to  live  up  to  the  family  reputation. 
Now  do  you  s'pose  that  a  girl  with  all  that  angel  blood 
would  go  a-visiting  and  scratch  up  the  floor,  or  catch 
her  hostess's  fish  ?  " 

Marie  was  completely  squelched.  There  was  nothing 
in  her  pedigree  to  boast  of  except  a  Pilgrim  Father,  a 
Governor,  a  Chief-Justice,  and  a  few  millionaires. 

"  That's  a  nice  way  for  you  to  talk  to  me,  Sylvia 
Forest,"  she  sobbed,  "  When  you  haven't  a  red  cent, 
'cept  what  my  brother  gives  you,  and  we  are  letting  you 
live  in  our  house !  " 

"  You  are  not  letting  me.  You  are  trying  to  make 
me.  I'm  not  anxious  to  stay.  And  you  are  wrong  about 
the  money,  too.  I've  got  a  quarter  and  a  dime  and 
three  nickels,  and  your  brother  didn't  give  'em  to  me, 
either.  But  since  you  don't  think  I'm  good  as  you, 
you  little  toad,  you  can  just  get  somebody  else  to  swing 
you.  I  don't  intend  to  associate  with  a  rude,  ungainless 
girl  like  you !  The  Lord  is  particular  about  us  orphans 


80  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

and  He  mightn't  like  it, — nor  none  of  my  angel  kin- 
folks  ! "  she  turned  away. 

"  I'll  tell  my  Brother  Robert  what  you  said !  "  called 
Marie. 

"  Tell  him  to  kiss  my  foot !  "  said  The  Greenwoods. 

And  the  small  kinswoman  of  half  the  angels  looked 
back  in  noble  scorn. 


CHAPTER  XII 

MAKIE  told  Robert  that  evening,  whereupon  he  went 
into  the  library,  and  sent  for  The  Greenwoods, — not 
so  much  to  kiss  her  foot,  as  to  have  an  understanding  as 
to  their  future  relations. 

"  I  hear,  Sylvia,  that  you  refuse  to  play  with  Marie," 
he  began;  for  the  item  that  had  gone  hardest  with 
Marie  was  the  orphan's  refusal  "  to  associate." 

"  You  didn't  tell  me  to  play  with  her,  Dr.  Kingston, 
but  just  not  to  touch  her  things,  hurt  her  feelings,  or 
quarrel  with  her.  Now,  if  me  and  her  don't  get  along, 
what  can  I  do  when  we  have  differences,  if  I've  got  to 
play  with  her  and  won't  tattle? — and  I  won't." 

"  I  am  sorry  you  don't  like  my  little  sister,  Green- 
woods, but  of  course  I  sha'n't  insist  on  your  playing 
with  her,  if  you  don't  wish  to." 

He  looked  coldly  on  this  debonair  little  personage, 
who,  with  an  unlimited  capacity  for  making  friends,  had 
chosen  to  snub  his  sister, — according  to  his  sister's 
story.  The  Greenwoods  wished  she  could  tell  him  just 
how  it  had  been;  but  how  could  she,  an  outsider, — who 
had  been  drilled  from  infancy  in  the  art  of  living  in 
other  people's  houses, — criticize  one  member  of  the 
family  to  another? 

"  But,  remember,  there  is  to  be  no  quarreling.  Now 
what  is  this  nonsense  you  said  about  not  obeying  me?  " 

In  imagination  she  had  seen  herself  overcoming  him 
with  the  logic  of  the  Declaration,  but  that  was  before 
the  razor  episode  had  shattered  her  calm.  He  might  be 

81 


82  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

a  usurper,  but  he  was  an  established  one,  and  one  so 
big  that  she  was  willing  to  postpone  her  revelation  in- 
definitely. However  absurd  her  doctrine,  though,  she 
believed  it;  and  an  honest  faith  gives  strength. 

"  Isn't  it  true,  Dr.  Kingston?  " 

"  Certainly  not !  " 

"  But  all  orphans  are  free  and  independent, — ain't 
they? — and  subject  to  no  authority  save  God's  alone. 
Teachers " 

"  Great  Scott ! "  The  expression  on  his  face  ful- 
filled her  strongest  expectations. 

"  Sir?  "—meekly. 

"  Excuse  me  for  interrupting.    Go  on." 

"  Oh,  certainly.  Isn't  it  warm  to-night  ?  It  looks 
like  summer " 

"  What  were  you  saying  about  teachers,  Green- 
woods? " 

"  Why,  nothing  'specially." 

"  Still  I  want  to  hear  it." 

"  What  for,  I  wonder,  Dr.  Kingston  ?  "  she  gazed 
dreamily  into  space. 

"  Begin  that  rigmarole  where  you  left  off.    At  once !  " 

"Where  did  I  leave  off,  Dr.  Kingston?  " 

"  At  the  word, '  Teachers.'  " 

"  Yessir ;  but  I  didn't  make  this  thing  up,  Dr.  King- 
ston, and  I'm  only  saying  it  to  please  you." 

"  Well,  say  it  then !  " 

"  I  hope  you  won't  be  vexed  about  it.  I  notice  you 
have  feelings." 

"  I  will  be  extremely  vexed  if  you  don't  begin." 

"  Of  course  I'll  begin,  if  you  want  me  to,  Dr.  King- 
ston. Looks  like  you'd  know  it,  though.  It's  in  the 
Bible.  Don't  you  read  your  Bible?  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  83 

For  reasons  of  his  own  he  preferred  not  to  answer. 

"  Will  you  say  it,  Greenwoods,  or  must  I  compel 
you?" 

She  looked  at  him  in  pained  reproach. 

"Dr.  Kingston,  haven't  I  said  I  would  say  it? 
Haven't  I  promised  you  solemn  I  would?  Do  you  be- 
lieve I  would  tell  you  a  falsehood?  " 

He  pulled  out  his  watch. 

"  I  give  you  three  minutes,  Greenwoods,  to  recite  it. 
If  you  are  not  done  by  that  time,  I  know  a  young  lady 
who  will  be  severely  punished.  Commence." 

"Where  at?" 

"  At  the  beginning.    One  minute  has  passed." 

He  stared  at  his  watch,  with  due  severity,  while  she 
looked  at  him  in  amazement. 

"  And  all  this  ado  over  nothing !  I  knew  all  the  time 
you  was  a  nervous  one!  It's  not  a  thing,  Dr.  King- 
ston, 'cept  about  teachers  and  guardians  being  our 
natural  enemies ;  '  and  it  is  our  duty  and  intention  to 
strike  off  the  shackles  of  all  tyrants  and  usurpers! 
They  are  to  be  recognized  and  obeyed  only  when  fancy 
or  convenience  wills.  Blood  relations  may  be  treated 
with  respect,  but  guardians  Must  Be  Put  Down ! '  It's 
not  my  fault,  though,  Dr.  Kingston,  so  what  are  you 
so  mad  about  ?  " 

"  That  isn't  in  the  Bible,  Greenwoods." 

"  Maybe  not,  but  the  girls  at  the  convent  said  it  was ; 
and  anyway  it's  Bible  teaching.  I  learnt  it  at  the 
Amalgamated  Society  of  Free  and  Independent  Or- 
phans. And  we  was  a  religious  organization." 

"  It  is  the  greatest  nonsense  I  ever  heard,  and  you 
must  forget  it.  Children  must  obey  their  guardians." 

"  Does  the  Bible  say  so,  Dr.  Kingston  ?    You  see,  I'm 


84  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

perfectly  willing  to  oblige  you,  but  I've  took  a  vow  to 
that  rigmarole,  and  I  have  to  keep  it.    Vows  is  vows." 

"  You  are  too  young  to  understand  the  sacredness  of 
a  vow,  Woody,  or  to  realize  the  trouble  you  may  cause 
by  disobedience." 

"  I  hope  I  won't  cause  no  trouble  at  all,  Dr.  King- 
ston. I'd  hate  to  have  to  be  rude  about  it.  But  being 
young  is  no  excuse,  for  a  girl, — young  or  old, — can  al- 
ways do  the  best  she  can,  and  angels  can  do  no  more. 
But  if  the  Bible  says  it  is  right  for  an  orphan  to  be 
obedient  to  her  guardian,  I  will  obey  you  to  the  bitter 
end.  For  the  first  duty  of  an  orphan  is  to  follow  the 
teachings  of  the  Bible." 

"  The  Bible  says,  «  Honor  thy  father ' }: 

"  I  do,  sir." 

"  And  I  stand  in  his  place,  so " 

"  No,  Dr.  Kingston,  he  stands  in  his  own  place ;  and 
that's  in  Heaven,  before  the  great  white  throne  of  God." 

"  Yes,  Greenwoods,  he  is  in  Heaven.  They  need  him 
there  and  he  is  happy,  but  you  are  still  in  this  rough 
old  world,  and  need  some  older  person  to  care  for  you." 

"  I  don't  think  they  really  need  Papa  in  heaven,  Dr. 
Kingston.  You  see  he  told  me  all  about  heaven  when 
he  was  half  turned  into  an  angel, — just  before  he  got 
loose  from  his  skin.  Besides,  Mamma's  been  an  angel 
nearly  ever  since  I  was  born,  and  often  and  often,  when 
my  meat  body  is  sound  asleep,  she  comes  to  my  inside 
body  and  tells  me  all  about  it.  So  I'm  pretty  well  up  on 
Heaven  myself.  Now  they  was  perfectly  happy  in 
Heaven  before  Papa  got  there,  so  they  didn't  need  him. 
And  if  I  had  needed  anybody  to  care  for  me,  God  would 
have  left  him  here  to  do  it.  For  God  knows  best.  Just 
look  at  the  Foresters,  Dr.  Kingston.  They  was  all 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  85 

lovely  people,  but  they  tried  to  take  care  of  a  little  girl 
what  God  knew  was  able  to  take  care  of  herself,  and  see 
what  happened  to  'em.  When  you  took  me  away  from 
Francie  I  knew  God  wanted  me  to  establish  my  inde- 
pendence, for  he  raised  her  up  especially  for  me.  She's 
God's  miracle,  and  if  I  can't  be  her  child  I  won't  minji 
nobody  but  God.  But  I'll  try  to  be  polite." 

Robert  changed  his  tack. 

"  Your  father  was  a  soldier,  Greenwoods,  and  knew 
the  beauty  of  obedience.  Wouldn't  he  have  wanted  you 
to  obey  me?  " 

"  No,  sir.  He  always  told  me  to  do  my  duty ;  and 
my  duty  is  to  put  you  down."  And  again  she  won- 
dered, "  Down  where  ?  " 

Robert  hesitated.  How  could  he  shatter  her  illu- 
sions? How  awaken  her  to  the  hardness  of  the  world? 
How  tell  her  of  the  grim  facts  that  made  orphanhood 
so  pitiful?  He  tried  again. 

"  Your  papa  would  not  have  wanted  his  little  girl 
to  be  unhappy,  Greenwoods ;  and  if  you  try  to  put  down 
a  big  man  like  me,  I  fear  you  will  suffer  in  the  at- 
tempt." 

"  God  will  help  me,  Dr.  Kingston." 

He  was  growing  impatient.  "  But  who  is  to  see  that 
you  are  fed  and  clothed?  Who  will  keep  you  from  be- 
ing imposed  upon?  Who  will  teach  you  the  way  of  the 
world?" 

"  God." 

"  But  He  needs  a  human  agent.  He  will  teach  you 
and  care  for  you  through  me." 

She  shook  her  head,  smiling  propitiatingly. 

"And  if  you  accept  a  guardian's  care,  Greenwoods, 
you  must  obey  him." 


86  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I'm  awfully  sorry,  Dr.  Kingston ;  but  I  don't  think 
I  need  a  guardian.  If  I  really  needed  one  I  would  obey 
him,  for  then  I  wouldn't  be  an  Independent  Orphan,  but 
just  the  plain  pitiful  kind.  But  God  is  good  enough 
for  me  without  no  agent." 

"  You  don't  understand  what  an  orphan  is  up  against 
in  this  world,  my  child.  Being  an  orphan  is  no  picnic. 
A  little  girl,  like  you, — with  no  home,  no  friends,  no 
money,  no " 

"  You  mistake  me  for  the  pitiful  kind,  Dr.  King- 
ston." The  Greenwoods  spoke  with  dignity,  "  The 
United  States  Government  gives  me  a  pension  every 
month;  and  I've  always  had  lovely  homes  and  more 
friends  than  I  know  what  to  do  with !  "  Then  she  flared 
up.  "  Yankees  do  kiss,  too !  You  was  wrong  about 
that !  Even  the  boys  are  trying  it !  " 

"What!" 

"  Yessir,  and  the  young  ladies  and  their  mammas 
come  out  to  The  Four  Oaks  and  gush,  till  I  don't  have 
time  to  bathe  my  children !  And  it's  all  your  fault,  too. 
Just  because  you  are  rich,  and  they  want  to  marry  you, 
they  slobber  over  me!  Now  you're  the  biggest, — so 
you  tend  to  that  kissing  yourself !  " 

With  face  encrimsoned,  and  not  knowing  how  to  an- 
swer this  attack,  he  carried  the  war  into  the  enemies' 
camp. 

"  Greenwoods,  we  are  discussing  your  duty  to  me. 
Now  the  law  has  put  you  into  my  keeping,  and  I  de- 
mand your  obedience.  If  you  ever  wilfully  disobey  me, 
I  will  punish  you.  Do  you  understand?  " 

Even  France,  who  had  all  a  mother's  rights,  had 
stopped  the  kissing  before  presuming  to  command ;  so 
The  Greenwoods  felt  that  Dr.  Kingston  was  a  failure 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  87 

indeed.  As  she  saw  it,  he  took  his  authority  too  seri- 
ously and  his  responsibility  too  lightly.  She  had  had 
enough  of  him, — she  wanted  France. 

"  Yessir." 

"  Then  go  to  bed ;  and  never  let  me  hear  a  word  of 
this  again !  " 

As  his  disgusted  little  ward  turned  away  Robert 
Kingston  put  on  his  hat,  and  left  the  house.  At  mid- 
night he  returned. 

Except  when  a  vivid  streak  of  lightning  rent  the 
sky,  inky  blackness  reigned.  Thunder  seemed  to  crash 
from  house  to  house,  and  to  shake  the  ground  beneath 
its  tread.  As  he  got  out  his  latch-key,  the  continuous 
flashings  revealed  to  his  startled  gaze,  out  at  The  Four 
Oaks,  a  little  childish,  white-clad  figure.  Rushing 
breathlessly  to  the  spot,  he  found  the  wandering  sprite 
to  be  no  other  than  his  ward,  in  scanty  raiment  clad, 
gathering  up  her  toys  and  packing  them  into  a  little 
wagon. 

"  Sylvia  Forest !  What  are  you  doing  here  at  this 
time  of  night?  " 

"  Is  that  you,  Dr.  Kingston  ?  "  asked  a  mild,  but  dis- 
appointed, little  voice.  "  I  had  hoped  it  was  Mr. 
Chester!  Please  help  me  with  these  things.  I  clear 
forgot  'em  this  afternoon,  and  if  we  don't  hurry,  they 
will  get  wet.  You  haul  the  wagon  and  put  these  in  your 
pocket  while  I  carry  Belinda.  Lend  me  your  hat  for 
the  dishes  and  little  babies,  and  put  the  piano  under 
your  arm;  and  hurry,  please,  sir,  for  it  looks  like 
rain." 

"  I  think  it  does."  He  chuckled.  "  What  will  you  do 
next,  you  monkey?  Run!  You  will  take  your  death 
of  cold!" 


88  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

He  rushed  her  and  the  dolls  to  the  house,  up  to  her 
little  room,  and  ordered  her  again  to  bed.  Then  he 
looked  at  her  in  amusement. 

"And  the  next  time  I  send  you  to  bed  please  stay 
there  till  morning.  Weren't  you  afraid,  Woody, — a  lit- 
tle thing  like  you." 

"  What  of,  Dr.  Kingston?  " 

He  laughed.  One  of  the  ladies  at  the  bridge  game 
had  had  hysterics. 

"  Of  the  thunder  and  the  lightning  and  the  dark." 

"  No,  sir.  You  see,  that  thunder  was  meant  for  me. 
If  God  hadn't  a-sent  it  to  wake  me,  my  babies  would 
'a  drownded." 

"  It  was  a  lot  of  thunder  to  save  a  few  dolls,  Woody." 

"  It  takes  a  lot  to  wake  me  up.    I  sleep  awful  sound." 

Laughing,  he  started  for  the  door,  but  she  called  him 
back.  "  Dr.  Kingston " 

"  Yes  ?  " — encouragingly.  Perhaps  she  intended  to 
yield  her  submission. 

"  Won't  you  please  take  Belinda's  dress  out  of  your 
pocket  and  hang  it  in  the  wardrobe.  And  the  twins 
are  in  your  hat." 

He  was  disappointed,  but  did  as  requested.  Her  eyes 
followed  him  uneasily  though,  and  she  seemed  to  have 
something  on  her  mind.  He  lingered,  hoping  that  she 
would  renounce  her  heresy. 

"  Thank  you,  Dr.  Kingston,  for  helping  me, 
and " 

"Yes,  dear?" 

"  And  Belinda  has  been  suffering  with  a  little  diph- 
theria lately.  Would  you  recommend  a  little  ipecac  ?  " 

It  was  not  what  he  had  expected,  and  he  never  had 
cared  for  playing  dolls.  Besides,  he  had  refused  from 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  89 

the  first  to  prescribe  for  Woody's.  But  what  was  he 
to  do?  Could  he, — a  mere  mortal, — let  Belinda  die  of 
neglect  after  the  Almighty  had  sent  his  thunders  to 
preserve  her? 

He  drew  up  a  chair  to  the  bedside  in  his  most  pro- 
fessional manner  and  felt  Belinda's  pulse.  He  reas- 
sured the  young  mother,  and  advised  a  cold-compress. 
With  careful  dieting,  Belinda  might  recover. 

"Robert  Kingston!  What  are  you  doing?  Is  The 
Greenwoods  sick?  " 

The  door  was  flung  open  and  Mother  Burns  entered 
in  alarm. 

"  By  no  means.  I  have  been  sent  for  for  Belinda." 
He  looked  up  gravely.  "  She  seems  a  trifle  feverish, 
and " 

"  Have  you  gone  stark  raving  crazy,  Bob  ?  "  asked 
the  good  woman.  And  she  gazed  from  The  Green- 
woods to  the  doll,  and  from  the  doll  to  the  physician, 
in  bewilderment. 

Mother  Burns  had  known  Robert  all  his  life  and  had 
called  him  Robert  for  years  before  it  had  been  necessary 
for  her  to  seek  employment  of  his  mother;  so  in  mo- 
ments of  great  earnestness,  the  old  name  still  slipped 
out. 

"  I  was  just  telling  Mrs.  Jonesville  that  the  little  girl 
will  pull  through.  Belinda  has  a  good  constitution, 
and " 

"  Robert  Kingston,  I'm  ashamed  of  you !  What  do 
you  mean?  Sending  the  child  to  bed  before  dark  as  a 
punishment,  and  then  waking  her  up  at  midnight  to 
play  dolls  with  her!  I  never  heard  anything  to  equal 
it  in  my  life.  Everybody  is  acting  foolishly  since  she 
came,  and  so  much  squabbling  and  joking  and  nonsense 


90  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

I  never  heard.    Get  out  of  this  room,  and  let  that  baby 
sleep!" 

Robert  fairly  ran;  but  as  he  went  down  the  hall 
they  heard  him  laughing. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

MRS.  JONESVILLE  was  busy,  and  Sylvia  was  singing. 
Except  when  Mrs.  Jonesville,  or  one  of  the  little  Jones- 
villes,  was  talking,  the  two  never  interfered  with  each 
other  at  all.  Mrs.  Jonesville  tidied  up  her  seven-room 
cottage,  which  was  enclosed  by  the  four  walls  of  Sylvia's 
chamber;  bathed  all  that  was  bathable  of  her  family, 
dressed  them,  and  arranged  them  in  sociable  groups, — 
talking,  advising,  correcting  animatedly,  the  while. 
.Whenever  a  lull  occurred,  Sylvia  sang: 

'"  O  be  joyful  in  the  Lord,  all  ye  lands, 

Serve  the  Lord  with  gladness,  and  come  before 
His  presence  with  a  song.V 

"  My !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Jonesville  in  despair,  "  It 
looks  like  I  never  can  keep  you  chillun  clean.  I  never 
saw  such  young'uns  for  playing  in  the  dirt !  " 

Marie,  still  grieving  over  her  snub  of  the  day  before, 
was  waiting  to  reap  the  advantages  of  brother  Robert's 
lecture.  He  was  away  from  home,  which  was  doubtless 
why  The  Greenwoods  was  not  "  associating." 

Marie  had  told  her  mamma  of  the  insult,  and  her 
mamma  had  almost  wept  in  sympathy.  Their  hearts 
were  wroth  with  Woody.  As  they  sat  in  the  living 
room, — Marie  hemstitching  by  her  mother's  side, — The 
Greenwoods'  making  a  "  joyful  noise  unto  the  Lord  " 
in  the  back  of  the  house  deepened  their  dissatisfaction. 

Hitherto  the  song  had  raised  the  spirits  of  the  en- 
tire household,  and  even  Mrs.  Kingston  had  hoped  that 
her  discontented  little  daughter  would  catch  a  gleam 

91 


92  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

from  the  orphan's  lamp  of  gladness.  Instead  of  en- 
lightening Marie's  darkness  though,  the  orphan  had 
coolly  refused  to  "  associate."  So  now  the  song  seemed 
heartless, — the  happiness,  intrusive. 

The  jubilant  young  voice  reaching  a  yet  higher, 
gladder  pitch,  the  lady  was  on  the  point  of  sending  a 
servant  to  request  less  noise,  when  the  music  ceased. 

Mrs.  Jonesville  having  dressed  her  last  child,  Sylvia 
tied  a  towel  around  her  own  head,  pinned  another  to 
the  front  of  her  dress, — to  simulate  an  apron, — seized 
her  broom,  and  started  to  help  sweep  the  house.  Mrs. 
Jonesville,  who  was  leaving  at  the  same  time,  delivered 
a  few  parting  injunctions. 

"  Be  good  children  while  I  am  gone,  and  I'll  bring 
you  back  some  candy.  Belinda,  don't  play  the  cry- 
baby this  morning,  and  if  I  catch  you  tattling  again,  I 
know  a  young  lady  what  will  be  severely  punished! 
Lettie,  don't  let  the  baby  fall  out  the  window,  or  the 
twins  into  the  fire.  If  the  triplets  wake  up,  the  bottle 
is  in  the  ice-box.  And  Prince  Charlie,  keep  your 
crown  on  straight,  or  I  will  spank  you  good !  " 

She  closed  the  door,  and  by  the  magic  of  a  youthful 
imagination  was  changed,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
into  Polly  Ann,  the  under-housemaid.  With  a  frown, 
she  hunted  up  her  superior;  and  no  sooner  found  her, 
than  she  began  to  grumble.  "  I  declare  to  goodness,  the 
way  they  clutter  up  this  house  is  a  sin !  " 

With  a  swoop  of  her  broom,  she  attacked  the  dust- 
heap,  and  unfortunately  swept  it  in  the  wrong  direc- 
tion. 

"  Rich  folks  ain't  got  no  consideration  for  us  poor 
folks,  Susie.  I  work  till  my  bones  ache " 

Grasping  the  broom,  the  maid  brought  her  industri- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  93 

ous  young  assistant  to  an  abrupt  pause.  Like  all  the 
servants,  she  adored  The  Greenwoods,  but  Polly  Ann's 
method  of  sweeping  made  too  much  dusting  necessary. 

"  Don't  you  want  me  to  help  you,  Susie  ?  "  entreated 
Sylvia,  and  the  imploring  tone  melted  the  maid's  wrath. 

"  Yes,  honey ;  but  I'm  in  a  hurry, — I  haven't  swept 
the  porch.  Look  here,  Polly  Ann,  if  you  don't  get  that 
porch  clean  before  the  missus  sees  it,  there'll  be 
trouble ! " 

"  Lordy !  I  thought  you  was  mad,"  began  Sylvia  in 
relief.  "  I  declare  to  goodness,  I  thought  I  was  fired !  " 
finished  Polly  Ann. 

Marie,  wearying  of  her  hemstitching,  had  gone  to 
gather  roses.  In  spotless  white,  with  a  big  sun-hat  and 
a  picturesque  basket,  she  passed  the  other  child,  with  a 
supercilious  stare.  The  other  child  failed  to  see  her. 

During  the  ablutions  of  her  offspring  Mrs.  Jones- 
ville  had  splashed  the  water  in  prodigal  quantities  over 
Sylvia's  garments  and,  the  starch  departing,  they  hung 
in  limp  folds  about  her  form.  Knowing  that  a  damp 
cloth  is  best  for  dusting,  Polly  Ann  had  so  utilized  the 
skirt  of  Sylvia's  frock,  while  her  hands  were  grimy,  and 
a  streak  of  dirt  adorned  her  cheek. 

Returning  with  her  roses,  Marie  crossed  the  porch. 
She  didn't  care  whether  Sylvia  "  associated  "  or  not ; 
but  that  was  Marie's  papa's  porch,  so  Marie  had  a  right 
to  walk  on  it. 

"  Don't  be  a-bothering  me,  child !  I'm  busy  as  I  can 
be  and  ain't  got  no  time  to  fool  with  chillun;  so  run 
along !  "  Sylvia  was  still  sweeping. 

Under  the  circumstances, — if  she  had  only  remem- 
bered them, — the  remark  was  tactless.  Marie's  wound 
was  reopened  and  she  replied  with  spirit: 


94  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I  don't  care  whether  you  have  time  to  play  with 
me  or  not,  Sylvia  Forest !  This  is  my  papa's  house,  and 
I  shall  go  anywhere  I  please  in  it,  any  time  I  please, 
and  stay  as  long  as  I  please.  And  if  you  are  rude  to  me 
again,  I'll  get  my  brother  to  send  you  to  bed  again! 
So  there!" 

This  caused  Polly  Ann  to  flee  and  brought  Sylvia 
to  the  surface  with  a  shock  of  surprise. 

"  Why,  Marie,  I  was  just  playing  housemaid! " 

Marie  sniffed  disdainfully,  but  was  interested;  and 
having  expressed  her  opinion,  was  mollified  by  this  ex- 
planation. 

"  My  name  is  Polly  Ann,  and  I'm  hired  to  your  ma 
for  a  dollar  a  week.  My  husband  is  sick,  and  my  five 
little  children  too.  But  for  me  they'd  starve  to  death. 
Poor  folks  have  a  hard  time,  Miss  Marie !  " 

Gloomily  she  began  to  sweep,  while  Marie  laughed. 
The  latter  wanted  to  join  in  the  game,  but  it  being  dif- 
ficult for  Marie  to  forget  Marie,  her  powers  of  pre- 
tending were  limited.  Polly  Ann  contemplated  the  work 
before  her  in  dismay :  "  I'll  have  to  scrub  this  porch ! 
It's  the  dirtiest  I  ever  saw !  " 

"  It's  no  such  thing !  I'll  tell  mamma  you  said  her 
porch  was  dirty !  " 

Polly  Ann,  who  was  always  leaving  Sylvia  to  bear  the 
brunt,  dodged  around  the  corner.  The  inhabitants  of 
The  Greenwoods  were  a  cowardly  lot.  Sylvia  raced 
after  Marie  and  caught  her  arm. 

"Why,  I  was  just  pretending  it  was  dirty. 
You " 

"  You  shouldn't  have  said  it,  anyhow !  " 

"  But  can't  you  see  yourself  it's  clean?  "    Her  com- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  95 

prehensive  gaze  alighted  upon  something  that  caused 
her  to  squeal  with  delight. 

"  It's  dirt !  Look  in  the  corner !  I  bet  Susie  left  it 
for  me  a-purpose !  "  And  dashing  at  the  substance,  she 
scattered  it  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven. 

Returning  to  the  living-room,  Marie  gravely  stated 
that  she  believed  that  other  girl  was  crazy.  Then,  it 
being  impossible  to  settle  down  to  her  usual  ladylike 
avocations  while  so  many  funny,  interesting,  foolish 
things  were  taking  place,  she  continued  to  watch  from 
the  window. 

"  She  is  a  pretty  girl,"  thought  The  Greenwoods  of 
Marie,  "  but  no  good  to  play  with.  So  what's  she  a-liv- 
ing  for?  Now,  I'm  a-going  to  move  out  to  The  Four 
Oaks." 

While  so  employed,  the  luncheon  hour  overtook  her. 

"  Mother  Burns,"  a  curly  head  was  poked  through 
the  kitchen  doorway  "  I  haven't  time  to  eat  with  the 
quality  to-day,  or  even  to  dress  up.  Mr.  Chester's  not 
here,  anyway,  and  the  rest  are  just  sticks.  So  you  and 
Mrs.  Malley  (Mrs.  Malley  was  the  cook)  be  two  good 
old  angels  and  send  my  lunch  to  The  Four  Oaks,  and 
I'll  lunch  out  there  with  the  children." 

Confident  of  her  request  being  granted,  she  trudged 
along. 

When  Mrs.  Kingston  asked  in  displeasure  why  Sylvia 
was  not  at  the  table,  Marie  replied : 

"  Because  I'm  here,  of  course.  Brother  Robert  ought 
to  make  her  associate !  " 

"  Why  do  you  care,  Marie,  whether  a  little  nobody 
like  Sylvia  plays  with  you  or  not  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  King- 
ston impatiently.  For  Marie's  evident  hankering  after 
the  orphan's  society  had  got  on  her  nerves. 


96  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I  don't  care.  And  if  she  wanted  to  play  with  me  I 
wouldn't  let  her,  because  she  was  rude  yesterday.  But 
she  hasn't  any  right  to  want  not  to  play  with  me.  This 
is  my  home,  not  hers." 

An  hour  later  she  had  again  taken  up  her  stand  by 
the  window  and  was  watching  The  Greenwoods. 

"  Stop  watching  her,  Marie,  and  practice  your 
music."  Mrs.  Kingston  spoke  almost  angrily. 

"  How  can  I  stop  watching  her,  mamma,  when  she 
acts  so  silly?  Honestly,  I  believe  that  girl  is  crazy!  " 

"  Why  don't  you  run  out  and  play  with  her?  "  asked 
Sister  Ellen. 

"  Because  I  don't  wish  to ;  but  I  believe  I  will  go  tell 
her  how  silly  she  looks,  jumping  up  and  down  like  that 
and  turning  round." 

And  with  this  charitable  intention,  Marie  departed. 

"  Come  on,"  called  The  Greenwoods  cordially,  catch- 
ing sight  of  her,  "  Let's  dance  it  against  each  other." 

"What  is  it?  They  didn't  teach  it  at  dancing- 
school." 

"  Oh,  they  teach  this  at  convents.  Did  you  ever  go 
to  one?  " 

"  No,  I  never  did."  Marie  felt  her  inferiority  keenly, 
"  I've  never  been  anywhere  except  to  Europe  and  New 
York  and  Niagara  Falls." 

"  Don't  worry  over  that,"  said  The  Greenwoods 
kindly,  who  had  never  been  out  of  her  own  country, 
"  I'll  teach  you  the  dance.  A  friend  of  mine  invented  it. 
It's  the  Monkey  Dance,  and  the  song  is  *  The  Animal 
Fair.'  Do  you  know  the  song?  " 

Marie  shamefacedly  shook  her  head. 

'  Then  I  will  sing  the  word  part,  and  you  just  sing 
'  the  monk  '  part;  just,  « the  monk, — the  monk  '  all  the 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  97 

way  through.  Now  I'll  show  you  the  dance :  You  give 
a  long  jump  forward,  like  this;  a  short  jump  back- 
ward, like  this,  then  hop  and  kick,  like  this.  See?  After 
you  get  the  hang  of  it,  you  do  anything  you  please, 
stand  on  your  head  or  chin  a  tree.  But  try  to  act  like 
a  monkey,  and  the  one  what  cuts  up  the  funniest  shines, 
and  doesn't  lose  step  or  breath,  is  the  best  dancer." 

The  dance  began.  The  Greenwoods,  as  usual,  was 
heedless  of  all  but  the  business  in  hand,  and  Marie,  who 
could  dance  and  sing, — if  she  could  not  pretend, — 
yielded  to  the  spell,  and  for  once  was  freed  from  her 
normal  self-consciousness.  There  was  not  much  origi- 
nality in  her  movements,  but  full  of  emulation,  she  tried 
to  do  all  that  The  Greenwoods  did  and  to  do  it  better. 
Singing  at  the  top  of  their  voices,  they  circled  The 
Four  Oaks  and,  jumping,  kicking,  prancing,  advanced 
upon  the  lawn. 

" '  I  went  to  the  Animal  Fair,' "  sang  The  Green- 
woods for  the  second  time.  Moved  by  one  of  her  fun 
germs,  she  caught  the  back  of  her  skirt,  drew  it  up  be- 
tween her  legs,  and  stuffed  her  petticoat  into  it.  The 
effect  was  the  same  as  if  she  had  had  on  a  pair  of  ex- 
tremely short  trousers.  Marie  followed  suit.  Unim- 
peded by  their  fluttering  skirts,  the  two  children 
jumped  further,  kicked  higher,  and  their  monkey  isms 
became  more  pronounced.  Their  singing  and  dancing, 
— as  each  tried  to  outdo  the  other, — brought  the 
passers-by  to  a  standstill.  Wayville  prided  itself  on 
its  New  England  dignity,  and  this  dance  was  new  to  it. 

Hearing  unusual  sounds  issuing  from  the  impressive 
home  of  the  aristocratic  Kingstons,  the  neighbors  came 
out  on  their  porches.  From  their  present  position  the 
children  were  plainly  visible. 


98  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Mamma,  look  at  Marie ! "  said  the  little  girls  to 
whom  Marie  had  long  been  upheld  as  a  pattern  of  pro- 
priety. The  mammas  looked  in  alarm.  If  The  Green- 
woods had  accomplished  a  dance  like  that  with  Marie, 
what  could  she  not  accomplish  with  their  own  less  sedate 
little  dears  ?  Yet,  so  long  as  this  dangerous  young  per- 
son was  under  Mrs.  Kingston's  protection,  the  mothers 
were  helpless. 

Suddenly  Sylvia  stumbled,  and  Marie,  thinking  she 
was  trying  to  turn  a  somersault,  beat  her  to  it.  The 
Greenwoods  was  feeling  more  hopeful  about  Marie. 
Marie  could  play  after  all.  Marie  had  been  basely 
slandered. 

The  servants,  hearing  that  Marie  was  skylarking, 
looked  on  in  awe  while  the  model  child  kicked  and  jumped 
upon  the  lawn  and  turned  up  her  toes  to  the  heavens. 
Sister  Ellen  came  out  too,  and  called  her  mother: 
"  Look,  Mamma ;  The  Greenwoods  seems  to  be  asso- 
ciating ! " 

Mrs.  Kingston,  who  was  responsible  for  the  ragging 
dances  not  having  been  taught  nor  tolerated  in  Way- 
ville,  came  out  to  smile  her  approval  of  the  children 
just  as  Marie, — incited  to  renewed  efforts  by  the  ap- 
plause of  the  postman,  a  deliveryman,  a  messenger-boy, 
several  little  girls,  and  two  ladies  on  their  way  to  a 
card  party, — turned  another  somersault.  The  sight  al- 
most curdled  the  blood  in  Mrs.  Kingston's  chaste  and 
elegant  veins. 

"  That  can't  be  Marie,  Ellen !  " 

"Yes,  mamma.  Isn't  she  graceful?  The  other  little 
girl  is  the  child  Robert  controls  so  beautifully?  I  shall 
congratulate  him  on  her  dancing !  " 

But  Mrs.  Kingston  had  hastened  to  the  lawn. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  99 

"  Girls !  "  she  exclaimed.  The  monosyllable  froze  the 
music  and  paralyzed  the  dancing. 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?  I  am  ashamed  of  you  both ! 
Oh,  Marie !  Sylvia  Forest,  what  do  you  mean  by  teach- 
ing my  child  so  disgusting  a  trick?  You  ill-bred  crea- 
ture !  Unless  you  behave  like  a  little  lady  you  shall  not 
live  in  my  house.  I  will  not  have  Marie  contaminated. 
I  will  report  this  to  your  guardian  and  have  you 
punished!  Now  to  the  house,  both  of  you!  Come  to 
Mamma,  Marie.  I  know  my  little  daughter  didn't  mean 
to  be  immodest,  but  was  tempted  by  Sylvia." 

Marie  was  in  tears  and  The  Greenwoods,  utterly  as- 
tonished, walked  on  in  advance, — blank  and  dazed. 
When  they  reached  the  house,  Marie  broke  from  her 
mother's  restraining  hand  and  ran  to  the  orphan's  side. 

"  Sylvia,  that  was  the  most  fun — I  ever  had — in  all 
my  life,"  she  sobbed,  "  and  it  was — m-mean  in  M- 
Mamma — to  stop  us !  " 

"  I  wish — I  was  in  heaven,"  sobbed  The  Greenwoods 
in  return,  "  I  never — d-do  anything  right — in  this — 
st-stingy  house !  " 

The  tearful  duet  was  interrupted  by  Mrs.  Kingston. 
, "  Come  at  once,  Marie.  Mamma  didn't  mean  to  scold 
her  little  daughter.  She  knows  you  were  not  to  blame. 
Come  and  get  ready  to  drive.  Sylvia,  leave  my  presence 
at  once,  and  don't  let  me  see  your  face  again  until  to- 
morrow ! " 


CHAPTER  XIV 

HUMILIATED  and  hurt, — angry  too,  withal, — The 
Greenwoods  flew  to  her  room,  and,  locking  the  door,  sat 
on  the  floor  and  cried.  She  wanted  to  die !  Then  they 
would  be  sorry !  Then  France  would  find  out  how  they 
had  treated  her,  and  scratch  their  ugly  eyes  out, — 
and  God  would  teach  'em  how  to  be  mean  to  orphans. 

"  They  will  be  sorry  when  they  come  a-knocking  at 
that  door,"  thought  Woody,  "  I  won't  let  'em  in.  Mrs. 
Kingston  sha'n't  see  my  face  to-morrow,  or  any  other 
time.  I  will  stay  here  till  I  starve  to  death,  and  go  to 
Heaven  to  live  with  my  own  papa!  I'll  never  eat  any 
more  of  their  old  grub  again,  or  sleep  in  any  of  their 
buggy  beds,  or  speak  to  a  solitary  member  of  their 
stuck-up,  hateful  family !  " 

Anger  was  overcoming  misery. 

She  didn't  want  to  live  in  their  old  house,  anyhow. 
Even  Walter  didn't  like  it.  Nobody  did!  It  was  a 
pigeon-toed  place,  with  red  hair!  But  if  they  hadn't 
wanted  her,  why  had  they  taken  her  away  from  France? 
She  hadn't  wanted  to  come  and  she  wouldn't  stay, 
either.  She  would  run  away,  and  never,  never,  never 
come  back  in  all  eternity — nor  afterward!  She  would 
get  all  the  orphans,  and  they  would  run  away  together. 
They  would  be  a  band, — like  gypsies, — and  she  would 
be  their  queen ! 

All  over  the  world  they  would  wander,  going  wher- 
ever they  pleased,  and  doing  whatever  they  pleased; 

100 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  101 

and  when  they  met  people  that  were  kind  the  orphans 
would  call  down  blessings  on  them,  and  stay  a  while, 
and  help  with  the  chores.  But  when  they  met  people 
that  were  mean,  they  would  give  them  the  orphans' 
curse,  and  bad  luck  would  dog  those  mean  folks  all 
their  days.  And  Mrs.  Kingston  should  be  the  first! 
The  boys  would  throw  rocks  at  her, — not  to  hurt  her, 
but  just  to  make  her  dodge, — then  she  would  be  sorry; 
and  the  queen  would  say : 

"  Don't  hurt  the  old  straight-mouthed,  cross-eyed 
idiot,  boys,  because  she  is  old  and  nervous,  and  just 
naturally  hateful,  so  she  can't  help  herself ;  for  she  was 
born  that  way,  and  couldn't  learn  any  manners.  But 
don't  associate  with  her,  children,  for  the  Lord  is  par- 
ticular about  us  orphans,  and  '  evil  communications 
corrupt  good  manners,'  so  '  let  a  sleeping  dog  lie.' ' 

That  wound  up  the  queen's  remarks  about  Mrs. 
Kingston.  Having  evened  up  the  score,  The  Green- 
woods felt  better. 

And  after  that  the  orphans  would  wander  on  again 
o'er  hill  and  dale,  until  they  came  to  a  beauteous  forest. 
There  they  would  pitch  their  tents, — over  on  the 
ground.  At  least,  the  boys  would ;  the  girls  would  have 
cunning  little  houses  up  in  trees, — like  Marie's. 

And  the  angels  would  come  down  and  tabernacle  with 
them, — and  tell  them  stories.  And  the  boys  would  have 
marbles  and  tops  and  kites  and  guns  and  nigger- 
shooters.  And  the  girls,  dolls  and  doll-duds  and  pretty 
clothes  and  ponies — like  Marie's. 

And  the  forest  would  be  a  lovely  gorgeous  place, 
with  fruit  trees  and  nut  trees  and  candy  trees  and 
pickle  trees  and  Christmas  trees !  There  would  be 
fountains  of  soda-water,  with  sardines  and  salmon 


102  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

swimming  about.  And  every  orphan  would  be  pretty 
and  polite. 

"  Gracious,"  yawned  The  Greenwoods,  "  I  believe 
I've  been  asleep !  And  I  never  was  so  hungry !  I  could 
eat  a  wolf!  I  shall  ask  my  dearest  friend  to  give  me  a 
piece  of  cake." 

So,  unlocking  the  door,  she  left  the  room  and  sought 
the  cook.  As  she  was  eating  the  cake, — a  generous 
slice, — she  asked  for  advice.  "  The  missus  says  she 
doesn't  want  to  see  my  face  again  until  to-morrow." 

"  Faith,  and  she'll  miss  the  swatest  sight  in  siven 
counties !  " 

"  But  what  must  I  do  about  it,  darlint  ?  " 

"  Spend  the  night  with  the  Widow  Wingo's  daugh- 
ter, begorrah!  That'll  fix  the  missus.  And  the  widow 
will  rejoice  to  have  you.  Just  go  a-kiting,  an*  lave  the 
rest  to  me." 


CHAPTER  XV 

"  SHE  seems  to  have  tried  herself,"  remarked  Robert, 
who  had  listened  to  his  mother's  tale  in  deep  displea- 
sure, "  Would  you  advise  the  corporal  persuasion, 
mother?  " 

"  I  never  advise  corporal  punishment.  It  does  no 
good  except  temporarily,  and  brutalizes  a  child.  Why 
not  try  the  efficacy  of  reasoning?  " 

"  I  have,  and  she  nearly  talked  me  to  death.  Sup- 
pose you  try  it.  You  reason  so  clearly.  Explain  to 
her  that  the  front  lawn  is  not  the  place  for  Monkey 
Dances,  and  that  she  shouldn't  ask  the  cook's  permis- 
sion when  she  wants  to  go  visiting,  or  advise  with  the 
servants  about  her  friendships,  and  that  she  must  eat 
with  the  family,  and  not  make  faces  at  Marie  nor  teach 
Marie  to  make  them  at  you,  and " 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  assume  control  of  your  ward, 
Robert?  Do  you  acknowledge,  after  all  your  advice 
to  your  sisters  and  to  me,  that  you  are  incapable  of 
cntrolling  one  small  girl?  " 

"  Certainly  not.  It  is  just  that  I  am  not  in  the 
humor." 

"  I  haven't  advised  you  to  flog  your  ward." 

"  No,  but  that  is  the  only  thing  that  will  do  any 
good.  I  suppose  I  might  as  well.  The  Greenwoods 
should  be  punished  for  her  naughtiness  whether  SHE 
likes  it  or  not." 

"Did  you  expect  Sylvia  to  enjoy  it?"  Mrs.  King- 
ston,— who  was  ignorant  that  the  last  pronoun  had  been 

103 


104  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

spelt  with  capital  letters  and  stood  for  the  most  beau- 
tiful woman  Robert  had  ever  seen, — was,  not  unnatu- 
rally, amazed. 

"  Not  exactly,  mother.  I  was  just  wondering  if  she 
considers  me  a  proper  person  to  inflict  the  penalty. 
If  I  have  been  correctly  informed,  she  has  agreed  to 
take  '  corporous  punishment,'  but  stipulated  that  it 
should  be  administered  by  an  '  old,  low-down,  cross- 
eyed dog.'  Do  I  fill  the  bill?  " 

His  mother  regarded  him  with  disapproval.  He  had 
been  strangely  reticent  concerning  Miss  Faunce,  had 
stayed  too  long  in  her  vicinity,  had  refused  to  stop 
the  correspondence  existing  between  her  and  The  Green- 
woods, and  now  was  visibly  afraid  to  punish  the  orphan. 
Why?  With  a  sinking  heart,  Mrs.  Kingston  guessed. 

"  Just  let  the  child  alone  then,"  she  said  coldly.  "  As 
I  have  told  you,  a  child  left  to  its  own  devices  often 
turns  out  as  well  as  one  more  strictly  reared.  I 
shouldn't  have  spoken  of  Sylvia's  conduct,  except  that 
you  have  said  so  much  about  the  injury  done  children 
by  indulging  them  that  I  thought  you  meant  it." 

"  I  do.  But  wouldn't  the  chastisement  be  better 
from  Mrs.  Burns?" 

Mrs.  Kingston  laughed  scornfully;  and  in  truth  the 
thought  of  Mother  Burns  doing  ought  but  worshiping 
and  lauding  her  "  angel  child  "  was  a  bit  incongruous. 
At  this  critical  moment  Marie's  voice  drifted  through 
the  open  window  in  petulant  complaint. 

"  Please  stop,  Sylvia !  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  glanced  at  her  son,  but  was  wisely 
silent.  Not  so  Marie,  who  was  growing  tearful. 

"  Please  don't  make  faces,  Sylvia.  I'm  not  making 
any.  Mamma  forbade  it." 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  105 

The  listeners'  hearts  grew  hard.  They  little  knew 
that  "  faces  "  was  the  latest  fad  in  juvenile  circles, — 
introduced  by  The  Greenwoods, — or  that  Marie's  tears 
were  caused  by  her  mother's  prohibition. 

"  Then  you  mustn't  make  'em,"  said  The  Green- 
woods, as  if  tempting  fate.  "  Children  what  have 
mammas  must  obey  them.  It's  just  orphans  what  can 
do  as  they  please.  Now  I'm  a-going  to  make  another. 
Look!" 

At  this  treasonable  remark,  Mrs.  Kingston  gasped, 
and  Robert  walked  out  on  the  porch,  with  lowering 
brow. 

"  Come  with  me  at  once  to  the  laboratory,  Green- 
woods," he  said  sternly. 

"  Oh,  goody !  "  exclaimed  The  Greenwoods, — to  his 
consternation, — and  she  skipped  joyfully  over  and  took 
his  hand.  She  had  heard  wonders  of  his  laboratory, 
and  this  was  her  first  invitation  to  visit  it. 

"  Let  me  go  too,  Brother  Robert.  I  haven't  seen  the 
lab.  for  ages !  "  begged  Marie,  and  Mrs.  Kingston  was 
confused.  Hadn't  The  Greenwoods  just  been  making 
faces  at  Marie? 

"  Not  to-day,  Marie.  Robert  doesn't  wish  to  enter- 
tain little  girls  to-day."  She  spoke  impressively  to 
make  Robert's  task  easier  for  him,  hoping  to  arouse  The 
Greenwoods'  apprehensions ;  but  that  sunlit  soul  was 
conscious  of  no  wrong-doing,  so  feared  no  evil. 

"  Please  let  her  go,  Mrs.  Kingston.  Marie  won't 
worry  him.  Will  you,  Marie  ?  " 

But  Marie  had  taken  the  hint,  and  was  regarding  the 
condemned  with  wondering  eyes.  Robert  started  for 
the  seat  of  punishment,  and  his  ward  tripped  blithely 
along  beside  him. 


106  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"Are  you  feeling  bad,  Dr.  Kingston?  You  look 
unhappy." 

"  I  am,  Sylvia.  I  have  an  unpleasant  duty  to  per- 
form." 

"  Are  you  a-going  to  amperate  something?  " 

"  No,  I  explained  to  you  once  that  I  would  never  am- 
putate your  toes  as  a  punishment,  but " 

"  Oh,  of  course  you  are  not  a-going  to  amputate  me ! 
I  thought  it  was  one  of  those  poor  patients  at  the  hos- 
pital." 

"  No,  my  business  to-day " 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  you're  not.  Likely,  though,  you're 
a-going  to  give  'em  medicine,  and  that's  most  as  bad. 
Why  don't  you  get  into  a  nicer  business  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  have  a  serious  talk  with  you,  Sylvia, 
about " 

"  Gracious ! "  She  came  to  a  terrified  standstill, 
'*  Have  you  heard  bad  news  from  Francie  ?  " 

"  No !     Is  she  ill  ?  "     He,  too,  grew  apprehensive. 

"  She  must  be,  if  it's  as  bad  as  that !  I  don't  want 
her  to  die,  Dr.  Kingston.  I  don't  care  if  it  is  more  fun 
to  be  an  angel.  There's  angels  enough  in  my  family 
now.  I'm  selfish  about  France,  and  I  want  her  to  stay 
a  girl !  " 

"  I  hadn't  heard  she  was  ill," — uneasily. 

"  Me  neither," — sorrowfully. 

"  Didn't  you  say  something  about  her  dying?  " — in- 
dignantly. 

"  No  I  didn't," — angrily.     "  You  said  it  yourself !  " 

"  Why,  I  didn't  mention  it." 

"  Well,  land's  sake !  What  is  your  serious  talk  about 
then  ?  Have  you  been  a-scaring  me  to  death  with  your 
foolishness?  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  107 

This  was  so  near  what  he  wanted  to  say  to  her,  that 
he  unlocked  the  door  in  silence;  and,  her  worry  van- 
ished, she  bounded  in  and  looked  around  with  animation. 

"  Oh,  look  at  the  snake!  Isn't  it  big!  Walter  told 
me  about  that  snake.  What  did  it  look  like  wrig- 
gling?  " 

Closing  the  door,  her  guardian  sat  down  and  sternly 
faced  her. 

"  Did  you  catch  it  with  your  own  bare  hands  ?  " 

"  Sylvia,  I  didn't  bring  you  here  to  talk  about  snakes. 
j » 

"  Where's  the  bear  rug  you  killed,  then  ?  " 
"  Sit  down,  till  I  finish  speaking."    He  peremptorily 
pointed  to  a  chair. 

Though  shocked  at  Robert's  inhospitable  manner, 
The  Greenwoods  pleasantly  accepted  the  seat,  and  in 
an  effort  to  put  him  at  his  ease,  said :  "  Don't  you  think 
it  looks  like  rain,  Dr.  Kingston?  Why,  you  look  an- 
noyed." 

"  I  am  displeased  with  your  behavior." 
"Huh!     What's  wrong  with  it?     Have  I  skated  on 
the  floor?  " 

"  No,  but " 

"  Have  I  slid  down  the  bannisters  ?  " 

"  I  believe  not,  but " 

"  Have  I  caught  your  mamma's  goldfish,  or  meddled 
with  Marie's  things,  or  left  the  place  without  permis- 
sion ?  " 

"  I  have  heard  no  complaints,  but  still " 

"  Then, — -great  Jehosaphat ! — what's  the  matter  ?  " 
He  was  daunted,  and  she  looked  at  him  in  disgust. 
"  I  knew  how  it  would  be  all  the  time.    It's  what  I  get 
for  minding  you  so  good!    And  me  an  orphan!     Next 


108  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

time  I  follow  the  teachings  of  the  Bible,  and  do  my 
duty!  A  person  can  be  too  good  in  this  world, — and 
I  am  it!" 

"  Why  were  you  making  faces  at  Marie  ?  " 

"  To  entertain  her  because  she's  feeling  puny.  I'm 
always  kind  to  the  sick." 

"  You  didn't  entertain  her.     You  made  her  cry !  " 

"That's  wasn't  my  fault;  she's  just  hard  to  enter- 
tain. You  said  yourself  she  was  a  cry-baby  and  a  fuss- 
cat  and  a  tattle-tale;  and  she  your  own  little  sister, 
and  me  no  kin!  Walter's  just  as  bad.  The  way  the 
gentlemen  of  this  family  talk  about  Marie  is  shameful. 
I'm  glad  I  have  no  brothers." 

"  I  certainly  did  not  use  those  words,  Sylvia ;  and  I 
am  sorry  I  gave  you  that  impression.  I  was  only  try- 
ing  " 

"  You  shouldn't  have  said  anything.  It's  not  polite 
to  talk  to  outsiders  about  your  kin.  What's  the  out- 
siders to  do  about  it?  " 

"  But  you  are  not  an  outsider.  You  are  one  of  the 
family " 

"  I  belong  to  my  papa's  family,  Dr.  Kingston.  And 
my  kin  are  angels, — clear  on  back  to  Adam.  I'm  the 
last  human  left." 

It  was  impossible  to  feel  pity  for  a  child  who  took 
this  view  of  her  orphanhood.  He  had  to  meet  her  on 
her  own  ground. 

"  Do  you  think  an  angel — "  he  began. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  don't.  They  never  talk  mean  about  folks. 
Besides,  Marie  is  a  very  nice  girl.  She  is  awf'ly  sensi- 
tive, but  if  they'd  send  her  to  boarding-school  she'd 
get  over  it." 

This  reminded  the  unfortunate  young  man  that  the 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  109 

daughter  of  the  house  was  not  the  one  to  be  disposed  of, 
nor  was  he  the  one  to  be  lectured.  He  tried  once  more 
to  fasten  the  guilt  where  it  belonged.  "  What  did  you 
mean  by  your  behavior  yesterday,  Sylvia?  " 

She  gazed  dreamily  into  space. 

"Yesterday?     I  disremember." 

"  You  gave  a  very  disgraceful  performance  on  the 
front  lawn,  and  should  be  punished  for  it." 

For  the  first  time  her  face  clouded  over,  and  he  con- 
gratulated himself  on  having  at  length  made  an  im- 
pression. Yet  it  was  not  the  threat  of  punishment  that 
had  sobered  The  Greenwoods,  but  the  remembrance  of 
Mrs.  Kingston's  unkind  words.  She  had  forgotten 
them  and  had  given  her  hostess  credit  for  doing  the 
same.  But  Mrs.  Kingston  had  meant  them, — meant 
them  all ! 

"  Dr.  Kingston,"  The  Greenwoods  turned  a  grave 
little  face  to  his,  "  I  want  to  go  back  to  Francie,  please. 
I  have  been  at  your  mamma's  house  long  enough." 

She  was  slightly  tremulous,  and  suddenly  realizing 
how  sweet  and  cheerful  she  had  been  during  the  sepa- 
ration, he  forgot  his  lecture  and  asked  gently : 

"  Has  any  one  mistreated  you,  Woody?  " 

He  had  never  suspected  that  she  needed  sympathy 
because  she  had  not  complained,  and  had  always  seemed 
happy.  Yet  sympathy  is  sweet  even  in  happiness. 

"  No,  sir,  but  I  have  been  visiting  here  long  enough." 

"  But  you  have  come  to  live  with  us,  my  dear.  This 
is  your  home." 

"  My  home  is  in  heaven,  thank  you,  where  my  papa 
lives.  I'm  just  visiting  around  in  this  world,  and  I'd 
rather  visit  Francie.  God  knows  best." 

Her  religion  always  put  him  at  a  disadvantage. 


110  "THE  GREENWOODS" 


"  We  were  speaking  of " 

"  Of  the  Monkey  Dance.  Your  mamma  didn't  like 
it." 

"Would  Miss  Faunce  have  liked  it,  Woody?  " 

"  Of  course.  She's  got  some  sense.  She  danced  it 
herself!" 

"What!" 

The  word  was  thundered  at  her  so  suddenly,  that 
she  gave  a  frightened  jump  toward  the  door.  Mrs. 
Kingston  had  painted  the  Monkey  Dance  in  dark  colors, 
and  Robert,  remembering  Miss  Faunce's  queenliness, 
was  offended  at  this  supposed  aspersion.  She  might 
be  fickle,  she  might  have  coquetted  with  his  poor  old 
uncle,  but  that  she  lacked  dignity  he  did  not  believe. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  she  danced  it  every  chance  she  got, — when 
the  teachers  weren't  looking.  Did  you  think  she  was 
a  goody-goody?  " 

So  it  was  at  school  she  had  danced  it.  He  relented, 
but  only  slightly.  If  the  dance  were  true  to  his  mother's 
description,  she  should  not  have  danced  it  any  where. 

"  I  want  to  see  that  dance,  Greenwoods !  " 

"  I'm  sorry,  but  your  mamma  objects." 

"When  I  tell  you  to  do  a  thing  you  do  it.  Now, 
dance ! " 

She  had  never  before  been  invited  to  dance  in  just 
this  bearish  manner;  but  when  a  guardian  speaks  in 
such  a  tone,  it  is  time  for  a  little  ward  to  be  up  and  do- 
ing. The  Greenwoods  assumed  the  first  position. 

"Begin!" 

She  had  never  felt  less  like  dancing  in  her  life.  She 
tried,  but  her  feet  failed  to  leave  the  floor.  Having  made 
an  honest  effort,  she  looked  supplicatingly  toward  him. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  111 

"  If  you'd  just  smile  a  bit,  Dr.  Kingston,  it  would  be 
easier." 

He  tried  to  smile,  but  being  in  an  ill  humor,  snarled 
instead. 

"  Oh,  not  that  way !    You  look  scarier  than  ever." 

Since  he  wanted  the  dance  (Well,  not  wholly  in  the 
interests  of  discipline),  he  tried  again  with  more  suc- 
cess. 

"  That's  better.  Thanks !  If— if  you'd  sing  a  lit- 
tle, I'd  enjoy  it  more.  It  makes  me  nervous  to  dance 
without  the  music." 

"  Do  you  intend  to  obey  me  or  not?  "  He  got  out 
his  watch. 

"  Of  course  I'm  a-going  to  obey  you !  Don't  you  see 
me  trying?  How  does  the  cross-eyed  thing  start  any- 
how? 'I  went— I  went—'  That's  not  it.  That's 
(  Nearer  My  God  To  Thee.'  I  can't  dance  the  Monkey 
to  that!  Why  don't  you  put  up  that  watch  and  help 
me?  That  watch  always  did  give  me  the  stage  fright!  " 

He  put  it  up.  She  made  a  few  more  futile  efforts, 
and  seeing  that  she  was  really  trying,  he  sang,  just  to 
get  her  started !  "  *  I  went  to  the  Animal  Fair '  " 

"  *  All  the  birds  and  the  beasts  were  there,' "  re- 
sponded The  Greenwoods  gratefully,  and  giving  a  long 
jump,  a  high  jump,  and  two  slides,  she  possum-a-laed 
and  began.  Seeing  her  improvement,  he  continued  his 
assistance,  and  the  dance  went  steadily  on. 

"  *  The  monk — the  monk — the  monk,'  "  he  was  sing- 
ing when  he  was  rudely  interrupted  by  his  little  sister. 
"  That's  my  song,  Brother  Robert,  and  you  shouldn't 
sing  it,  if  I  can't !  It's  not  fair." 

Marie  had  stolen  to  the  window  to  see  for  herself 
what  a  whipping  looked  like;  Mrs.  Kingston  had  fol- 


"THE  GREENWOODS" 

lowed  to  keep  her  from  interfering;  Walter,  Chester, 
and  Ellen  had  come  to  save  The  Greenwoods.  Since  she 
was  not  in  danger,  they  applauded  instead  and  gave 
three  cheers  for  the  good  disciplinarian. 

Robert  stared  at  them  rather  sheepishly,  but  dared 
not  explain  why  he  had  made  The  Greenwoods  dance, 
or  why  he  had  been  singing.  Nevertheless,  Mrs.  King- 
ston's worst  fears  were  confirmed. 

When  a  temporary  lull  had  fallen  on  the  quizzing  and 
he  was  left  alone,  his  thoughts  reverted  to  Miss  Faunce. 
He  was  willing  to  marry  a  girl  of  whom  his  mother 
disapproved,  but  not  one  of  whom  he  disapproved  him- 
self;  and  dignity  was  a  quality  he  wanted  his  wife  to 
have.  Miss  Faunce  seemed  to  be  lacking  in  too  many  of 
the  virtues;  so — he  would  forget  her. 

Yet  he  was  not  forced  to  suffer  alone,  for  thus  wrote 
The  Greenwoods  to  her  "  own  adopted :  " 

"  He  was  angry  as  blazes,  France,  till  I  told  him  you  danced 
it  too.    Then  he  jumped  most  out  of  his  skin  and  yelled  like 
wild,  but  did  not  eat  me  up.     Mrs.  Ellen,  and  Mr.   Chester  and 
the  Boy  laughed  and  clapped  but  Mrs.  Kingston  said  it  was  dis- 
graceful and  disgusting." 


CHAPTER  XVI 

IN  pursuance  of  his  resolution  to  forget,  Robert,  in 
spite  of  the  family  mourning,  divided  his  time  impar- 
tially between  Mrs.  Wingo,  Miss  Wile, — and  The 
Greenwoods.  The  first  two  were  of  great  assistance. 
Both  were  charming  women,  and,  after  all,  he  had 
known  Miss  Faunce  but  slightly.  It  was  only  Octavius 
— and  The  Greenwoods  that  saved  her  from  oblivion. 
Still,  he  reflected,  Octavius'  only  fault  had  been  indif- 
ference to  the  wiles  of  a  notorious  flirt,  which  example 
might  be  worthily  followed. 

Yet,  while  there  was  nothing  wrong  with  Octavius, 
the  same  could  not  be  said  of  The  Greenwoods.  She 
called  Marie  names.  Marie  objecting,  he  rashly  sent 
for  The  Greenwoods  to  admonish  her. 

"  You  are  right,  Dr.  Kingston,"  she  sweetly  agreed, 
as  she  took  the  lecture  into  her  own  hands  and  brought 
it  to  a  close ;  "  calling  names  is  neither  pretty  nor 
polite.  And  you  are  like  to  say  something  you  are 
sorry  for,  and  where'll  you  be  then?  Besides,  the  habit 
will  grow  upon  you,  so  you  should  break  yourself  of  it 
while  you  are  young.  Did  I  ever  tell  you  about  Francie 
apologizing  to  me  before  the  school  ?  " 

"  You  interrupted  me,  Greenwoods,  in  the  midst  of 
my " 

"  Excuse  me.  It  was  the  last  day  France  ever  went 
to  school.  The  low-down,  burning  coward !  " 

"  Are  you  speaking  of  Miss  Faunce?  "  In  his  amaze- 
ment of  her  detraction  of  her  idol,  Robert  forgot  to 
stop  her. 

113 


114  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Yessir.  She's  got  her  faults,  Dr.  Kingston,  though 
I  wouldn't  admit  it  to  anyone  else  here  but  you.  The 
rest  don't  seem  to  like  her." 

He  was  silent.  It  might  help  him  to  hear  of  Miss 
Faunce's  faults. 

"  It  was  last  year,  when  we  were  at  a  finishing  school 
in  Baltimore." 

"  I  thought  you  were  at  a  convent  then." 

"  That  was  session  before  last.  This  was  last  Sep- 
tember. You  know  we  went  back  to  school  after  Mr. 
Perkins  got  struck,  to  keep  him  from  proposing. 
France  was  afraid  to  refuse  him,  for  fear  he'd  take 
me  and  she  was  skittish  about  his  mouth  even  then." 

At  this  reminder  Dr.  Kingston  frowned,  and  The 
Greenwoods  hurried  on : 

"  And  she'd  a-been  going  to  school  yet,  if  it  hadn't 
been  for  me.  She's  an  ungrateful  wretch !  It  was  study- 
hour,  and  it  wasn't  my  month  to  study,  so " 

"Not  your  month  to  study?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  it  was  Goldilocks'.  It  was  my  month  to 
have  fun,  so " 

"  I  don't  quite  grasp  your  meaning.  You  only 
studied  every  other  month?" 

"Yessir.  You  see  France  and  Edith  was  enemies, 
and  always  had  been.  And  Edith  was  going  to  school 
too,  because  she  was  engaged  to  Mr.  Cameron  (that 
was  before  France  cut  her  out) ,  and  her  papa  wouldn't 
let  her  marry  Mr.  Cameron,  for  he  couldn't  make  a 
living.  So  she  went  to  school  in  Baltimore,  to  be  near 
him." 

"  What  has  all  this  to  do  with  your  studying  only 
every  other  month?  " 

"Why,  Goldilocks  was  Edith's  sister,  and  me  and 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  115 

her  wac  the  only  little  girls  in  school.  And  Edith  said 
she'd  give  Goldy  a  licking,  if  she  didn't  get  a  higher 
average  than  me;  and  Goldy  was  so  scared  that  I  just 
let  her  beat.  Now  wasn't  that  right  ?  " 

"  Haven't  you  any  ambition,  child  ?  " 

"  That's  just  what  France  said.  She  was  shocked 
most  to  death  when  she  found  out  I  had  let  Goldilocks 
beat  me  after  Edith  had  set  her  on  to  do  it.  I  ex- 
plained to  her  about  that  licking  I'd  saved  Goldilocks 
from  getting,  but  it  didn't  do  any  good.  She  said,  if 
I  didn't  get  higher  than  Goldilocks  the  next  month  and 
quit  my  foolishness,  she'd  spank  me !  " 

He  smiled  approvingly. 

"  She  was  quite  right." 

"  But  what  was  me  and  Goldilocks  to  do  about  it  ?  " 

"  You  should  both  have  studied." 

"  It  wouldn't  have  done  any  good.  One  of  us  would 
a-caught  it  anyway.  So  what  was  the  use  in  that  one 
a-studying?  Why  shouldn't  that  one  save  her  studying 
till  it  would  do  more  good  ?  " 

Before  this  way  of  putting  it  he  was  at  a  momentary 
loss.  "  Fortunately  you  didn't  know  which  one  it  would 
be." 

"  Oh,  we  drew  straws  for  it, — the  first  time, — and 
then  we  took  it  time  about." 

At  this  solution  he  barely  escaped  laughing. 

"  You  did  wrong " 

"  It  turned  out  for  the  best,  though,  Dr.  Kingston. 
It  always  does.  You  see  September  and  October  I  let 
her  beat.  In  November  we  drew  straws, — and  she  got 
the  bad  one.  The  next  month  was  December  and  that's 
what  I'm  telling  about.  It  was  study-hour,  like  I  told 
you,  and  as  I  was  too  honorable  to  study,  I  wasn't 


116  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

a-doing  it.  And  you  know  about  Satan  finding  mischief 
for  idle  hands  to  do.  Well,  that  was  me.  Suddenly 
somebody  threw  a  note  over  my  head.  If  there's  any- 
thing I  hate,  it's  to  see  a  girl  throw  a  note  in  school." 

"  I'm  glad  you  have  the  right  view  on  one  subject,  at 
least." 

"  Yessir,  they  ought  to  pass  'em.  So  when  the  teacher 
got  that  note  I  wasn't  sorry  a  bit,  for  I  thought  the 
girl  ought  to  a-had  more  sense.  It  was  a  sarcastic 
teacher,  and  when  she  opened  that  note  she  gave  a 
sarcastic  laugh,  and  then  she  tapped  the  bell  and  read 
that  note  out  loud.  What  you  reckon  it  was  about?  " 

"  I  can't  imagine." 

"  Me !  And  there  I  was  a-sitting  as  innocent  as  a 
little  lamb :  *  Greenwoods  Forest,  if  you  don't  stop 
drawing  pictures  and  writing  notes, — I  will  spank  you 
good ! '  And  France  had  writ  it !  I  was  so  mortified  I 
wanted  to  kill  her." 

"  All  the  girls  was  a-laughing  theirselves  to  death, 
and  I  thought  the  idiots  was  a-laughing  at  me  about  the 
spanking.  And  it  angered  me.  But  when  I  turned 
around  to  tell  'em  what  I  thought  of  'em,  I  saw  they 
were  laughing  at — France !  " 

He  smiled  in  spite  of  himself  at  Miss  Faunce's  break- 
ing the  rules  of  school  in  her  effort  to  maintain  dis- 
cipline. How  young  she  was ! 

"  Now  I'm  not  the  child  to  adopt  a  mother,  and  then 
forsake  her  when  she's  in  trouble.  France  had  done 
wrong,  and  I  told  her  so  when  I  got  her  to  myself,  but 
not  when  they  were  laughing.  Then  I  walked  back  and 
put  my  arms  around  her  neck,  and  made  faces  at  the 
whole  hateful  crowd !  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  117 

He  smiled  again  and  forgave  The  Greenwoods  her 
faces  at  Marie. 

"  It  stopped  the  crowd  from  laughing  too,  but  it 
vexed  the  teacher.  She  yanked  me  by  the  arm  and  made 
me  stand  on  the  platform.  Then  she  thanked  France 
for  helping  her  keep  order  (old  sarcastic  cat!),  and 
said,  '  Why  beholdest  thou  the  mote  that  is  in  my 
brother's  eye,  but  considerest  not  the  beam  that  is  in 
thy  own  eye?  '  Then  the  hateful  thing  went  after  those 
pictures  France  said  I'd  been  drawing  (I  got  after 
France  for  that  tattling, — good!)  and  one  of  those 
pictures  was  of  the  teacher.  It  was  an  impolite  picture 
about  a  wart  that  was  on  her  nose;  and  that  picture 
hurt  her  feelings ;  and  then  I  knew  that  an  angel  would 
never  have  drawn  it,  and  so  I  cried. 

"  Now  Francie  didn't  know  about  the  picture,  but 
thought  I  was  crying  because  I  had  to  stand  up  in 
school  (as  if  I'd  be  so  silly),  so  she  stood  right  up  then 
and  there  and  apologized  to  me  for  writing  that  note, 
and  afterwards  apologized, — sarcastic,  though, — to  the 
teacher.  Then  up  she  came  and  stood  on  the  platform 
by  me.  Of  course  she  didn't  stand  long;  for  every- 
body knew  she  had  a  millionaire  up  her  sleeve — But 
wasn't  it  sweet  in  a  big  grown  girl  like  her?  " 

"  Well,  yes,"  he  spoke  regrefully ;  for  what  Frances 
had  lost  in  dignity  she  had  gained  in  sweet  human  na- 
ture. After  all,  it  is  as  natural  for  a  girl  to  be  a  girl 
as  for  a  boy  to  be  a  boy;  and  they  are  so  much  more 
innocent  with  their  fun.  So  Robert  sighed  regretfully, 
for  he  realized  that  the  image  he  had  sought  to  destroy 
was  placed  more  securely  than  ever  in  his  heart. 

"  But  where  did  her  cowardice  and  ingratitude  come 


118  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

in,  Greenwoods  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  she  was  both  sweet 
and  brave." 

"Well,  you  see,  Dr.  Kingston,  I  couldn't  afford  to 
have  my  mother  talked  to  like  France  had  been  by 
that  sarcastic  teacher.  It  was  beneath  her  dignity.  So 
I  told  her  how  ashamed  of  it  I  was,  and  advised  that  we 
quit  school  at  once,  turn  Sister  Faunce  out,  and  keep 
house  ourselves,  and  make  our  debut.  For  girls  like  us 
had  too  much  sense  for  school!  And  that's  where  her 
ingratitude  came  in.  The  cross-eyed  wretch  stopped 
school  herself, — and  made  me  keep  on  going !  " 

He  chuckled,  and  The  Greenwoods  regarded  him  un- 
favorably. 

"  And  what  do  you  s'pose  her  excuse  was  for  it  ?  " 

"  I  could  think  of  several,  Greenwoods." 

"  Well,  she  couldn't.  The  only  one  she  could  find 
was — because  I'm  little!  Did  you  ever  hear  of  any- 
thing so  cowardly?  Actually  taking  advantage  of  my 
size  to  make  me  go  to  school !  Still,  there  was  one  good 
result  of  it  all,  as  I  told  you  a  while  ago." 

"And  what  was  that?" 

"  Why,  you  see,  she  stopped  school  before  the  reports 
were  made  out,  and  was  so  busy  with  our  debut  that  she 
hadn't  time  to  see  whether  Goldilocks'  average  was 
higher  than  mine  or  not.  It  was  my  bad  month,  you 
know.  And  after  the  beaux  and  parties  started  she 
was  busier  still.  So  I  saw  I  was  safe,  and  told  Goldi- 
locks that  she  could  have  all  the  averages  and  wel- 
come. And  after  that  I  didn't  have  to  study  at  all ! " 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  fun  germs  had  made  the  Kingston  residence 
their  headquarters,  and. so  much  visiting,  buzzing,  and 
excitement  had  never  been  known  in  that  orderly  man- 
sion before.  The  Kingstons  were  unable  to  adjust  them- 
selves to  the  changed  conditions,  so  everything, — ex- 
cept the  family  of  dolls  at  The  Four  Oaks, — was  in 
a  state  of  unrest,  and  everybody  unsettled, — except  The 
Greenwoods. 

She  was  not  dependent  upon  time,  place,  nor  condi- 
tions for  her  happiness.  So  when  Mrs.  Kingston's  cold- 
ness drove  her  from  the  house  she  retreated  to  the 
swing,  and  was  happy  there;  for  within  her  was  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven.  But  Marie  thought  it  was  be- 
cause she  had  the  swing.  So  Marie  took  the  swing, 
and,  lo, — it  was  no  longer  the  seat  of  happiness,  but 
only  a  rope  that  dangled  from  a  tree. 

How  was  Marie  to  know  of  the  Kingdom?  She 
thought  happiness  was  to  be  found  in  material  things; 
therefore  her  desire  for  it  manifested  itself  in  envy. 

But  The  Greenwoods'  happiness  was  formed  out  of 
the  relics  stored  in  her  subconscious  treasure-house. 
From  these  the  spirit  built  "  a  nest  of  happy  thoughts," 
which  Sylvia  could  enter  almost  at  will,  finding  relief 
from  her  worries,  rest  for  her  weariness,  comfort  for 
her  sorrows.  It  was  located  on  the  borderland  of  the 
human  and  divine,  "  where  neither  moth  nor  rust  doth 
corrupt,  and  where  thieves  do  not  break  through  nor 
steal ;  "  and  where  angels  could  come  and  minister  unto 

119 


120  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

her.  She  called  it  her  Kingdom,  and  there  anger  was 
changed  to  pity, — tears,  to  smiles. 

So  when  Marie  seized  the  swing,  The  Greenwoods, 
playing  at  The  Four  Oaks  was  just  as  happy  without 
it;  whereupon  Marie  concluded  that  it  was  not  the 
swing  that  had  made  The  Greenwoods  happy,  but  The 
Four  Oaks.  To  the  discontented  child  happiness  seemed 
to  be  beckoning  from  Woody's  playhouse. 

The  Greenwoods  had  been  ordered  never  to  touch 
Marie's  things ;  accordingly,  her  suspicions  having  been 
aroused,  she  decided  that  Marie's  things  had  smallpox, 
and  established  a  rigid  quarantine.  Every  child  in  the 
neighborhood  followed  The  Greenwoods'  lead,  so  when 
Marie  played  in  company  she  had  to  borrow  toys. 
Her  own  were  perfectly  safe,  but  she  was  unhappy  be- 
cause they  were  avoided. 

"  What  will  they  think  of  me  ?  "  was  the  basis  of  her 
thoughts.  Happiness  was  trivial  unless  others  were 
there  to  see  it,  and  grief  was  welcomed  for  the  sake 
of  sympathy.  They  ruled  her  life, — those  others, — 
and  gave  so  little  in  return.  She  would  have  sacrificed 
everything  for  the  world's  admiration;  and  the  world 
was  thinking  of  itself! 

Yet  Marie  was  consistent ;  for  the  one  whose  opinion 
she  esteemed  most  highly  was  the  one  who  was  most 
indifferent.  And  this  one  was  The  Greenwoods. 

The  Greenwoods  was  gentle,  but  animated;  was 
courteous,  but  could  uphold  her  rights,  and  yielding, 
somehow  won;  was  merry,  though  Marie  had  seen  the 
elders  regard  her  with  tearful  eyes;  was  loved  by  the 
world,  but  indifferent  to  it,  yet,  while  heedless  of  its 
regard,  was  considerate  of  its  feelings ;  was  careless  of 
possessions,  but  they  were  showered  on  her;  had  no 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  121 

home,  yet  all  homes  were  opened  to  her,  and  had  no 
friends, — except  the  multitude.  When  Marie  sought 
her,  The  Greenwoods  was  glad;  when  Marie  neglected 
her,  she  was  still  glad.  The  game  went  on  just  the 
same,  and  others  might  join  in  or  keep  away. 

At  present  the  game  was  in  progress  at  The  Four 
Oaks,  and  Marie  was  discontentedly  watching  it  from 
the  captured  swing.  How  much  fun  was  to  be  had  at 
The  Four  Oaks!  Even  grown-ups  went  there  to  see 
The  Greenwoods,  and  boys,  forgetting  their  masculine 
pride,  played  there  too.  No  one  ever  noticed  Marie's 
house.  No  wonder !  God  had  made  that  playhouse  for 
Woody,  and  Marie  had  heard  her  say  that  before  ever 
she  was  born  or  had  heard  of  Wayville  He  had  pre- 
pared it.  Yes,  but  He  had  prepared  it — in  Marie's 
papa's  yard ! 

How  much  sweeter  it  was  than  the  silly  thing  Marie's 
mamma  had  given  her!  How  could  Marie  be  expected 
to  like  it  ?  True  it  was  a  perfect  little  house,  but  it  was 
built  up  in  a  tree,  where  houses  don't  belong.  Birds  live 
in  trees,  and  Marie  was  not  a  bird.  She  wanted  her 
house  under  the  trees, — under  The  Four  Oaks ! 

Of  course  Woody  had  to  move  her  things  in  and  out 
every  day  to  protect  them,  but  moving  was  half  the 
fun.  Every  boy  in  the  neighborhood  hung  about  dying 
for  a  chance  to  help  her,  and  the  servants  were  crazy 
about  it.  They  thought  it  such  fun  to  help  her  move — 
to  The  Four  Oaks ! 

Marie  wished  that  she  had  so  pretty  a  place  to  play, 
then  people  would  want  to  play  with  her.  She  could 
have  had  that  very  spot  too,  if  it  hadn't  been  for 
Woody.  Why  couldn't  she  have  it  anyway?  It  be- 
longed to  Marie's  papa. 


122  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

They  had  promised  Marie  not  to  let  The  Greenwoods 
worry  her,  and  here  they  had  allowed  this  trespasser 
the  sweetest  spot  in  the  yard,  in  the  town,  in  the  world, 
and — it  belonged  to  Marie's  papa! 

How  hurt  and  grieved  he  would  be  when  he  found  how 
badly  they  had  treated  his  little  girl!  He  would  show 
Sylvia  how  to  be  mean  to  her!  Marie  would  tell  him 
too.  No,  she  would  tell  The  Greenwoods. 

"  I  want  to  play  here,"  she  announced  a  moment 
later. 

"  Come  ahead  then,  and  we  will  keep  house  together. 
You  can  play  papa,  and  I  will  play  mamma " 

"  I  don't  want  to  play  papa !  " 

"  Then  you  play  mamma." 

"  I  don't  wish  to  play  mamma  either." 

"  All  right ;  you  can  board  with  me,  and  be  what  you 
please.  Here  is  my  best  spare  room,  mizziz,  at  just  one 
hundred  a  week.  Have  you  any  chil " 

"  I  don't  want  to  play  boarder.  I  want  to  play  here 
by  myself ! " 

"All  right.     Let's  trade." 

"  You  haven't  anything  to  trade.  This  belongs  to 
my  papa,  and  he  doesn't  like  your  playing  here.  He 
said  last  night  he  hoped  you  wouldn't  hurt  the  trees." 

"  Well,  I  won't  play  here  then,"  responded  the  free 
and  independent  orphan  in  a  huff.  "  Take  it,  you 
greedy  pig ! " 

"I'm  not  a  pig!" 

"  Hog,  then !  "  And  forthwith  The  Greenwoods  be- 
gan her  packing,  which  by  this  time  had  been  system- 
atized. Marie  began  to  cry.  The  Four  Oaks  was  hers, 
but  happiness  had  flown  again. 

"  Cry-baby ! " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  123 

"  I'll  tell  my  brother  on  you ! "  Marie's  sobs  grew 
louder. 

"  Tattle-tale !  "  And  pointing  the  finger  of  derision, 
The  Greenwoods  sang,  "  Tattle,  tattle,  tattle-tale, 
shame  on  you !  " 

"  O-h,  you  won't  play  nice  with  me !  " 

"  You  are  not  a  nice  person.  If  you  would  look  to 
your  manners  and  be  polite,  I  shouldn't  mind  associat- 
ing ;  but  as  it  is,  the  Lord's  against  it.  You  see  you  are 
nothing  but  a  hog  what  looks  like  a  girl,  and  when  you 
die  the  cover  will  drop  off.  Now  take  your  papa's  old 
leaky  house,  and  I  hope  you'll  be  drownded  in  it,  to 
teach  you  manners." 

"  I'm  going  to  tell  this  very  minute."  And  with 
mournful  indignation,  Marie  started  to  the  "  lab." 
while  The  Greenwoods  went  on  singing. 

When  Marie  returned,  The  Greenwoods  was  still 
singing.  She  sang  while  Marie  delivered  her  brother's 
message,  and  continued  to  sing,  as  she  started  for  the 
judgment  seat;  and  always  the  same  insulting  song. 

"  You  will  sing  on  the  other  side  of  your  mouth, 
missy,  when  brother  Rob  gets  through  with  you.  You 
are  to  get  a  whipping !  " 

The  Greenwoods  stopped  singing  then,  and  paid  a 
tribute  of  respect  to  Dr.  Kingston.  Marie  was  horri- 
fied. 

"  I  shall  tell  him  what  you  said !  " 

"You  needn't  bother  about  it,  tattle-pig!  I'll  tell 
him  myself !  " 

Picking  up  the  tongue  of  her  wagon,  the  evicted  one 
strolled  with  lofty  mien  towards  "  the  lab."  Her 
guardian,  grown  impatient,  was  waiting  for  her  in  the 
doorway.  He  could  discern  the  insolent  air  of  victory 


124  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

that  floated  about  the  orphan,  and  the  dejection  and 
defeat  that  clung  in  damp  folds  to  the  heiress ;  and  as 
he  was  not  a  mind  reader,  his  sympathy  went  where  it 
seemed  to  be  needed. 

"  Come  in,  Greenwoods,"  he  said.  "  So  you've  been 
calling  Marie  names  again  ?  " 

"  I  did  worse  than  that.     I  called  you  names !  " 

His  guard  was  down,  and  she  had  knocked  him  off 
his  feet.  His  lecture  had  to  be  reconstructed. 

"  What  have  I  done  to  you?  " 

"  Nothing." 

"  Then  why  did  you  call  me  names  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  didn't  mean  any  harm  by  it.  I'm  going  to 
be  an  old  maid  myself !  " 

Just  what  connection  there  was  between  her  marital 
intentions  and  the  names  she  had  called  him  he  failed 
to  see.  Nevertheless,  he  flinched. 

"And  I  just  adore  Yankees!  I  felt  hard  towards 
Yankees  once,  but  I  know  'em  now  and  admire  'em. 
Especially  little  Yankee  boys.  Yankee  boys  have  a 
look  in  their  eyes  like  they  don't  mean  no  harm." 

This  peroration  left  him  dumb. 

"  And  school-teachers  have  mighty  fine  educations, 
and  are  cultured,  and  elegant,  and  refined !  " 

"  So  that's  what  I  am,  is  it,  Woody?  " 

"  No,  Dr.  Kingston,  you're  not.  You  are  a  perfect 
gentleman,  and  quite  agreeable  when  not  irated.  Marie 
is  so  stuck  up  over  you  that  I  just  said  that  to  vex 
her." 

"  Am  I  to  consider  this  a  retraction  ?  " 

"  Just  anything  you  please,  Dr.  Kingston.  I  didn't 
mean  a  word." 

He  smiled  and  took  her  on  his  knee.     She  patted  him 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  125 

apologetically  on  the  hand  and  he  kissed  her  in  sign  of 
forgiveness.  It  was  not  what  he  had  intended  to  do 
when  he  sent  for  her,  but  one  had  to  do  the  best  one 
could  with  Woody.  Still,  there  had  to  be  a  settlement. 
She  and  Marie  were  keeping  the  whole  establishment 
in  a  stew  with  their  bickerings, — or  rather,  Marie  was ; 
The  Greenwoods  was  calm  enough  over  it.  He  wanted 
the  facts  of  the  case.  If  Marie  were  to  blame,  he 
would  take  The  Greenwoods  away ;  if  The  Greenwoods, 
she  must  turn  over  a  new  leaf. 

"  Why  did  you  call  Marie  names,  my  dear?  " 

"  I  just  felt  like  it,  Dr.  Kingston." 

"How  did  it  begin?" 

"  I  told  her  she  was  a  pig,  and  she  said  she  wasn't ; 
and  I  said  she  was  a  hog,  and  she  said  she  would  tell,  so 
I  said  '  Tattle-tale.'  " 

"  Was  that  a  polite  thing  to  do?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  but  she  interfered  with  my  game." 

"  Was  she  trying  to  impose  on  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no !  I  had  something  that  belonged  to  her,  and 
she  took  it." 

"  You  seem  to  be  in  the  wrong."  He  was  troubled, 
"  Didn't  she  call  you  names  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed ;  she  never  calls  names.  She's  a  lovely 
girl  about  that." 

He  placed  The  Greenwoods  on  the  floor,  and  ex- 
amined her  gravely.  She  puzzled  him.  There  were 
times  when  he  preferred  Marie,  with  all  her  crying  and 
tattling,  to  the  cheerful  little  enigma  before  him,  with 
her  charm,  her  sweetness,  her  never-ending  mischief, 
and  her  saucy  wheedling  grace. 

"  Tell  me  all  about  it,  Woody?    How  did  it  start?  " 

"  I  don't  remember,  Dr.  Kingston.    I've  always  called 


126  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

people  names.  It's  not  Francie's  fault.  She  tried  her 
best  to  break  me,  but  I'd  required  the  habit  before  I 
adopted  her  So  what  could  she  do?  " 

He  looked  at  her  sorrowfully  yet  tenderly.  So  sweet 
a  little  girl  and  so  preposterously  naughty ! 

"  I  won't  blame  anyone  but  you  then,  Woody.  I'm 
sorry  to  do  that,  but  since  you  have  no  excuse," — he 
crossed  the  room  and  stood  by  a  straight-back  chair 
in  the  corner, — "  sit  here  awhile, — perhaps  it  will  in- 
duce you  to  keep-  the  peace." 

She  sat  down  and  he  turned  the  chair  to  the  wall, 

"  Sit  there  now,  until  I  tell  you  to  move.  Don't 
look  around,  nor  say  a  word." 

For  once  she  obeyed  him.  He  went  to  the  window, 
and  picking  up  a  book  from  a  nearby  table,  lounged  in 
his  easy  chair. 

Her  spirits  drooped, — not  over  the  punishment,  but 
over  the  loved  and  lost  Four  Oaks.  While  they  were 
talking  she  had  forgotten  it,  but  now,  remembering, 
she  wondered  where  she  was  to  play.  The  Kingston 
house  was  commodious,  but  too  fine  for  frolicking;  the 
Kingston  grounds  were  spacious, — with  many  a  nook 
and  bower  to  charm  the  eye, — but  with  not  one  spot  to 
play  in.  Mrs.  Kingston  had  driven  The  Greenwoods 
from  the  house,  and  in  the  yard  she  was  not  safe  from 
Marie's  despoiling  hand.  Austerity  and  envy  ruled, 
and  the  fun  germs  had  been  driven  out. 

She  had  not  told  Robert  of  her  loss,  because  she  had 
not  blamed  Marie.  Marie  had  made  her  angry,  and 
had  been  called  names  in  consequence, — but  Marie  was 
right.  The  Four  Oaks  did  belong  to  her  papa,  so  why 
shouldn't  she  have  it,  since  she  was  selfish  enough  to 
want  it?  Even  if  The  Greenwoods  had  told,  while  her 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  127 

guardian  might  have  remitted  the  punishment,  he  could 
not  have  restored  the  playhouse, — for  his  papa  was 
afraid  she  might  injure  the  trees. 

Tears  blurred  her  eyes  at  the  thought,  and  she  had 
much  ado  to  keep  from  crying;  which  would  have  been 
unkind.  For  when  an  orphan  weeps,  the  angels  are 
troubled;  which  shows  what  important  personages  or- 
phans are.  Woody,  however,  loved  the  angels  too  well 
to  grieve  them.  So  she  stared  hard  at  the  wall,  and  shut 
her  mouth  tight  to  keep  in  the  sobs. 

The  room  was  papered,  and  in  front  of  her  there 
was  a  crack  in  the  paper.  She  fixed  her  eyes  upon  it, 
not  even  blinking  for  fear  a  tear  might  fall ;  and  as  she 
sat  there,  sad  and  motionless, — wondering  where  she 
would  play  in  the  future, — the  crack  spread  out  and 
formed  a  crevice  through  which  she  seemed  to  see  a  tree. 
As  she  watched  it  the  tree  grew  and  grew,  the  wall 
vanished  from  before  her, — and  she  was  standing  under 
the  shade  of  the  tree  in  the  Children's  Kingdom, — in 
that  kingdom  of  which  she  was  queen ! 

Hundreds  of  children  were  there,  and  they  ran  to 
meet  her,  with  shouts  of  welcome. 

"  Our  little  Queen  has  come !  "  they  called  to  one 
another  joyously.  "  Oh,  we  are  so  glad!  " 

"  Come  and  swing !  "  they  said.  "  The  giant  is  here 
waiting,  and  it  is  your  time  next !  " 

Then  they  led  her  to  a  tree,  so  tall  that  she  could 
hardly  see  the  lower  branches.  From  it  a  rope  was 
hanging, — a  rope  that  seemed  to  be  fastened  to  the  sky ; 
while,  standing  beneath  it,  was  the  biggest,  kindest, 
j  oiliest  giant  that  ever  lived  or  died.  Yet  for  all  his 
hugeness,  he  was  just  a  boy;  for  the  rule  is  that  who- 
ever enters  the  Kingdom  must  first  turn  into  a  child. 


128  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

Down  The  Greenwoods  sat,  and  the  fun  began. 
Backward  and  forward, — higher  and  ever  higher, — she 
swung.  It  was  almost  like  flying.  When  she  neared 
the  earth,  she  could  hear  the  children  laughing;  when 
she  soared  to  heaven,  she  could  see  the  angels  smiling 
in  the  clouds. 

Having  placed  the  sinner  on  the  stool  of  repentance, 
Robert  was  almost  shocked  at  her  implicit  obedience. 
It  was  a  nuisance  to  discipline  so  engaging  a  little  sin- 
ner, so  brave  a  little  monkey, — who  neither  cried,  told 
fibs,  nor  made  excuses.  It  had  been  so  much  pleasanter 
to  chaff  and  bandy  compliments.  Well,  he  would  only 
keep  her  there  ten  minutes, — just  long  enough  to  let  her 
know  that  he  was  in  earnest  about  Marie. 

Leaning  back  in  his  chair,  he  opened  his  book  to 
pass  the  time,  which  seemed  as  long  to  him  as  he  thought 
it  did  to  her.  The  afternoon  was  warm,  he  had  been  up 
late  the  last  few  nights,  and  drowsiness  was  in  the  air. 
It  entered  and  possessed  him. 

The  clock  ticked  off  the  moments,  and  the  afternoon 
wore  on.  The  Greenwoods  finished  her  visit  to  the 
Kingdom,  and  came  to  herself  with  a  start.  Raising 
her  head,  she  looked  around  and  smiled  roguishly  at  the 
sight  that  met  her  eyes. 

"  He's  asleep,"  she  chuckled ;  "  and  has  left  me  a-sit- 
ting  here!  Well,  if  that's  not  a  joke  on  him! " 

With  suppressed  laughter,  she  resumed  her  position ; 
but  it  was  growing  irksome.  Still  she  had  a  lot  to  think 
about,  for  a  new  game  had  begun.  She  had  brought  it 
back  with  her  from  the  Kingdom.  Her  dolls,  all  but 
Belinda,  were  going  to  boarding-school,  which  a  little 
friend  of  hers  was  to  keep  at  a  penny  a  week  for  each 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  129 

doll.  The  Greenwoods  was  to  be  the  board  of  trustees, 
supply  the  furniture,  and  furnish  most  of  the  pupils,  but 
if  others  wanted  to  send  their  children,  they  could.  And 
the  board  would  visit  the  school  every  day,  and  help 
the  teacher. 

She  was  eager  to  tell  Pearl  about  it  and  to  begin. 
Was  the  doctor  going  to  sleep  forever  ?  She  had  a  great 
mind  to  wake  him,  for  enough  of  a  thing  was  enough; 
but  some  folks  are  such  bears  when  you  wake  them, — 
dangerous  animals  especially !  He  had  been  nice  about 
those  names  though.  At  this  reflection,  she  settled  down 
again  and  began  to  count  her  pulse.  With  so  many 
good  things  a-happening,  surely  something  good  would 
happen  to  wake  the  doctor  up !  Soon  a  smile  wreathed 
her  face,  and  taking  her  hand  from  her  wrist,  she  slowly 
went  on  counting. 

At  last  he  opened  his  eyes  and,  noting  her  dress,  was 
lazily  curious  as  to  how  it  got  there,  until,  seeing  her 
in  it,  he  glanced  guiltily  at  the  clock  and  found  that  his 
ten  minutes  had  grown  into  an  hour!  What  had  ailed 
his  independent  orphan  that  she  had  not  disturbed  him? 
Why  this  unwonted  docility  ?  Tiptoeing  to  the  back  of 
her  chair,  he  peeped  over, — and  found  her  laughing. 

"You  snore  just  dreffle,  Dr.  Kingston!"  she 
gurgled  joyfully. 

"  You  little  wretch !  "  he  gasped,  m  perfectly  genuine 
confusion.  "  Have  you  been  listening  all  this  time?  " 
Unceremoniously  he  tumbled  her  to  the  floor.  She  sat 
there  and  crowed  triumphantly: 

"  I've  been  a-counting  'em !  Ffteen,  and  one  you 
swallowed.  The  joke's  on  you,  Dr.  Kingston!" 

And  it  really  was.  "  But  you  mustn't  tell,  and  I  will 
treat." 


130  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Never  a  soul, — but  France." 

"  Not  even  France !  Promise,  Woody !  I'll  give  you 
anything  you  want." 

"  Then  I  cross  my  heart.  May  I  have  a  boarding 
school  at  Pearl's  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  and  I  will  finance  the  institution.  Bring 
me  your  list." 

"  Oh,  goody !  And  many  thanks !  May  I  take  the 
children  to  Pearl's  now  and  leave  'em?  I  want  to  start 
'em  soon  as  possible, — they're  so  backward.  And  may 
I  visit  the  school  every  day?  I'm  the  board." 

He  gave  the  required  consent,  and  was  repaid  with  a 
look  of  blissful  gratitude.  She  rushed  to  the  door,  but 
paused. 

"  I'll  say  one  word  for  you,  Dr.  Kingston !  Guardian 
or  no  guardian, — dangerous  animal  or  little  lamb, — you 
are  a  gentleman !  " 

He  made  a  bow  that  would  have  done  credit  to 
Chester  and  which  pleased  Woody  immensely. 

"  And  I'll  say  one  for  you,  Greenwoods :  amalgamated 
or  unmalgamated, — friend  or  enemy, — you  are  a  thor- 
oughbred !  " 

She  curtsied  back,  and  as,  a  moment  later,  she 
jumped  down  the  steps,  she  seemed  to  emit  rays  of  satis- 
faction with  life,  the  world, — the  universe.  Reaching 
the  ground,  she  burst  into  song: 

"  '  O  be  ye  joyful  in  the  Lord,  all  ye  lands  : 
Serve  the  Lord  with  gladness,  and  come  before 
His  presence  with  a  song.'  " 

Marie,  angry  with  The  Greenwoods  and  displeased 
with  herself, — victorious,  yet  not  satisfied, — contem- 
plated the  ruins  of  her  conquered  castle  in  despair.  It 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  131 

leaked!  All  that  anguish  for  a  leaky  house!  What 
had  it  not  cost  her  in  longing,  tears,  opprobrium? 
Through  the  roofless  ceiling,  she  saw  a  cloud  upon  the 
zenith,  and  recalled  the  direful  saying: 

"  I  hope  you'll  be  drownded  in  it !  " 

She  wanted  to  give  it  back,  but  had  too  much  self- 
respect.  Some  insults  cannot  be  overlooked  by  decent 
people. 

So  she  went  (oh!  bitter  thought!)  to  the  pest-house 
to  get  her  tainted  furniture  and  plague-stricken  chil- 
dren, which  had  been  banished  from  society  by  that 
tyrant,  The  Greenwoods. 

"  You  don't  catch  me  running  any  risk  with  your 
house,  Marie,"  she  had  said,  "  till  you  clean  it,  and  air 
it,  and  scrub  it,  and  sun  it,  and  burn  smelly  things  in 
it,  and  hang  up  a  flag!  You're  a  shifty  housekeeper, 
you  are ;  and  an  unnatural  mother !  If  I  were  in  your 
place,  I'd  bury  those  poor  little  children  what  starved 
to  death  while  you  was  a-visiting  your  sister." 

One  armful  of  furniture  and  dolls  convinced  Marie 
that  moving  was  no  fun.  The  Greenwoods  was  a  hypo- 
crite! So  Marie's  nurse  had  to  finish  the  job,  and  much 
she  grumbled.  Marie  arranged  the  furniture  just  as 
Woody  had  kept  hers,  and  waited  in  gloomy  triumph 
for  her  to  come  and  see. 

Waiting  for  The  Greenwoods  was  always  a  trying 
ordeal,  and  Marie's  one  consolation  was  that  the  whip- 
ping brother  Rob  had  spoken  of  was  surely  lasting  a 
long  time.  Yet,  he  could  not  be  whipping  her  all  this 
time,  or  he  would  have  beat  her  to  death !  Then  Marie 
would  have  had  her  pains  for  nothing.  What  a  bad 
girl  Woody  must  be,  to  get  such  an  awful  whipping! 

Mrs.  Kingston  invited  Marie  to  ride,  but  the  invita- 


132  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

tion  was  declined.  Half  the  fun,  or  rather  all  the  fun, 
would  be  in  watching  The  Greenwoods  emerge  from  her 
punishment, — weeping  and  penitent, — to  find  Marie  in 
possession  of  the  loved  playhouse.  Marie  grew  hot  and 
hungry,  and  would  have  given  The  Four  Oaks,  and  the 
pest-house  thrown  in,  for  a  glass  of  water,  but  none  of 
the  servants  was  within  call,  and  Woody  might  come 
at  any  minute. 

Thus,  all  the  time  that  The  Greenwoods  was  appar- 
ently kept  in  the  corner, — but  was  really  in  the  King- 
dom,— Marie,  who  was  seemingly  free,  was  imprisoned 
at  The  Four  Oaks. 

Finally  the  door  of  the  "  lab "  opened  and  The 
Greenwoods  came  out.  She  had  gone  in  clothed  in 
majesty,  she  came  out  singing.  Waving  her  hand  to 
her  guardian,  who  was  watching  her  smilingly  from  the 
door,  she  made  a  short  cut  to  the  gate, — The  Four 
Oaks  and  the  trouble  thereat  forgotten. 

So,  with  a  song  on  her  lips  and  good  will  in  her 
heart,  she  moved  her  dolls  and  doll  furniture, — her 
Lares  and  Penates, — from  the  Kingston  domain.  As 
the  cheery  little  figure  passed  through  the  gate  Marie's 
spirits  sank.  She  felt  as  if  she  had  driven  the  joy  of 
life  from  her  home. 

"  Hadn't  I  better  move  your  things  in,  Miss  Marie?  " 
asked  the  nurse.  "  It  may  rain  to-night." 

"  No,  Anna ;  leave  them  right  here.  The  Greenwoods 
will  be  back  soon,  and  I  want  her  to  see  them." 

Accordingly  the  nurse  left  them  there,  and,  sure 
enough,  that  night  it  rained. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

AT  breakfast  the  next  morning  the  family  was 
treated  to  the  spectacle  of  a  silent  Greenwoods.  Mrs. 
Kingston  had  seen  the  flooded  playhouse  and,  ignorant 
of  the  change  of  ownership,  thought  this  accounted  for 
the  unwonted  taciturnity.  Had  she  only  known  that 
the  ruined  toys  were  Marie's,  she  would  have  replaced 
them  without  their  little  owner's  knowledge. 

Mrs.  Kingston's  devotion  to  her  youngest  child 
would  have  been  beautiful,  had  it  not  been  so  narrow. 
She  thought  nothing  too  good  for  Marie  and, — as  a  con- 
sequence,— Marie  thought  nothing  quite  good  enough 
for  herself.  The  mother  stripped  the  rose  of  its  thorn, 
and  the  daughter  looked  for  thorns  instead  of  roses. 

Marie's  character  was  as  positive  as  The  Green- 
woods', but  was  biased  toward  gloom.  She  too  was  in- 
fested with  microbes,  but  hers  were  of  discontent.  Ad- 
versity may  have  been  necessary  for  her  development; 
for  certain  it  is  that  she  resented  her  parents'  efforts  to 
swathe  her  in  luxury  and  pleasure;  and  though  they 
ransacked  the  world  to  please  her,  she  remained  un- 
happy. 

Tired  of  hearing  the  orphan's  cheerful  disposition 
lauded  to  the  skies  while  her  own  cherished  daughter  sat 
by  in  conspicuous  discontent,  Mrs.  Kingston  now,  with 
a  touch  of  malice,  directed  attention  to  The  Green- 
woods' sober  mien. 

"  Did  your  dolls  get  wet  last  night,  Sylvia  ?  "  she 
asked. 

"  No,  Mrs.  Kingston."    Out  of  delicacy  for  Marie's 
183 


134  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

feelings,  The  Greenwoods  avoided  her  questioner's  eye. 
She  too  had  seen  those  dolls.  But  Marie,  witless  of 
their  fate,  ate  steadily  on. 

"Isn't  your  playhouse  under  the  oak  trees?" 

"  No,  Mrs.  Kingston.     I  moved  yesterday." 

Marie  remembered  now,  not  that  her  toys  had  been 
left  out  in  the  rain  but  that  she  had  appropriated  The 
Four  Oaks.  Mistaking  Woody's  sympathy  for  regret 
at  losing  the  playhouse,  she  rejoiced. 

"  Why  did  you  move  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Kingston  sus- 
piciously. 

In  The  Greenwoods'  estimation,  tattling  was  the  un- 
pardonable sin ;  so  she  looked  at  Marie  helplessly. 

"  It — it  leaked,  ma'am." 

With  a  blood-curdling  shriek,  Marie  upset  her  cup, 
threw  back  her  chair,  and  rushed  wildly  from  the  room. 
She  had  remembered!  The  Greenwoods  followed,  with 
more  decorum.  The  others  turned  questioning  eyes  in 
the  direction  of  Robert,  who,  being  guardian  of  The 
Greenwoods,  would  naturally  know  the  cause  of  this 
disturbance.  There  had  been  no  disturbances  before 
The  Greenwoods  came. 

"  What  is  the  matter  now,  Bob  ?  "  asked  Colonel 
Kingston. 

"  Sylvia,  as  usual,"  replied  Mrs.  Kingston  for  her 
son. 

"  Marie  is  the  one  that  seemed  to  be  agitated,"  said 
Chester. 

"  Nothing  ever  agitates  Sylvia.  It  is  the  rest  of  us 
that  are  ailing.  Don't  look  so  offended,  Robert !  I  am 
only  amazed  at  your  ward's  activity?  How  long  do  you 
expect  her  to  continue  in  this  way?  We  have  not  had 
a  moment's  peace  since  she  came !  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  135 

"  Be  explicit,  Mother.  What  is  my  ward  doing 
now?" 

"  Marie  left  her  dolls  out  last  night,  and  it  rained 
on  them,"  explained  Walter  bluntly,  "  and  Mamma  told 
about  it,  and  she  howled !  I  don't  see  how  The  Green- 
woods is  to  blame !  " 

"  What  were  Marie's  toys  doing  outdoors  ?  "  de- 
manded the  mother. 

"  Did  you  expect  my  ward  to  bring  them  in  for  her  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not,  son.  I  only  thought  that  they 
might  have  exchanged  playhouses,  and  that, — as  usual, 
— The  Greenwoods  had  come  out  winner." 

"  Even  so," — Robert  was  thinking  of  The  Green- 
woods' midnight  rescue  of  her  family, — "  she  isn't  to 
blame  for  their  getting  wet.  Marie  should  have  brought 
them  in." 

"  I  don't  know  that  they  have  exchanged,  Robert ; 
but  it  is  strange  that,  with  all  the  odds  against  her, 
everything  that  happens  on  this  place  redounds  to 
Sylvia's  credit.  Either  all  the  forces  of  nature  are 
working  for  her, — which  isn't  probable, — or  she  is  the 
deepest  little  schemer  I've  ever  known." 

"  Be  careful,  mother,"  laughed  Chester,  "  You  are 
speaking  of  your  future  daughter-in-law." 

"  Stop  making  love  to  the  child,  Chess,"  said 
Robert.  "  She  has  fool  notions  enough  in  her  head  now, 
without  your  putting  any  more  there.  I  mean  what  I 
say.  Stop  calling  her  "  Miss  Forest  "  and  treating 
her  as  if  she  were  grown !  " 

"  You  needn't  worry,  Bob,"  exclaimed  Walter  scorn- 
fully. "  She  hates  grown  people  as  much  as  I  do ;  and 
Chess  is  old  enough  to  be  her  daddy !  " 

"  While  we  are  about  it,"  called  out  the  stern  guar- 


136  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

dian  to  the  retreating  youth,  who  blushed  behind  his 
ears,  "  you  stop  making  love  to  her  also.  She's  too 
young!" 

"  Don't  tease  him,  Bob,"  laughed  Colonel  Kingston. 
"  He's  in  earnest." 

"  So  am  I,"  returned  Robert. 

"  And  I,"  added  Chester.  "  And  now  I  want  to  see 
the  trade  my  future  wife  has  made." 

"  I  shall  go  with  you  to  see  what  mischief  my  ward 
is  in." 

"  And  I,  to  see  what  is  the  matter  with  Marie,"  said 
Colonel  Kingston.  So  since, — to  Mrs.  Kingston's  per- 
turbation,— they  sought  the  scene  of  the  disaster,  she 
perforce  went  too. 

As  they  sadly  viewed  the  remains,  The  Greenwoods' 
arm  encircled  the  waist  of  the  grief-stricken  mother. 

"  It  will  be  just  lovely !  "  sighed  Marie  in  rapture, 
"  Oh,  mamma !  We  are  to  have  a  funeral !  " 

"  And  notices  and  flowers  and  a  hearse !  You  can  be 
all  the  mourners,  Marie,  and  cry  to  your  heart's  con- 
tent ;  and  I'll  be  the  preacher.  I'm  fine  on  sermons, — I 
go  to  church  and  mass  and  prayer  meeting  so  much! 
What  sort  of  a  sermon  do  you  want  preached  over  the 
departeds,  Sister  Kingston  ?  " 

"What  sort  would  you  advise?" 

"  There  are  corpses  enough  for  all  sorts,  but  a 
Methodist  sermon  and  an  Episcopal  ceremony  will  be 
the  most  scrumptious." 

Seeing  that  the  children  were  ignoring  their  elders, 
Robert  interrupted. 

"  Where  are  your  dolls,  Greenwoods  ?  " 

"Over    at   Pearl's.      I'll    bring   them   home   to    the 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  137 

funeral,  but  take  them  right  back  afterwards.  We 
must  hurry  too,  or " 

"Why  are  they  at  Pearl's?"  asked  Mrs.  Kingston. 

"  They  are  boarding  there.  I'm  a-going  to  keep  'em 
there  till  I  move  back  to  Frances's.  Where  can  we  get 
some  crepe?  " 

"  Why  at  Pearl's  ?  "  Mrs.  Kingston  was  horrified ; 
both  at  the  orphan's  dolls'  boarding  out  and  at  the 
implication  that  they  would  be  more  welcome  at  Miss 
Faunce's, — when  The  Greenwoods  returned.  All  were 
startled.  By  moving  her  toys  the  child  had  given  a 
black  eye  to  their  hospitality;  and  besides,  they  were 
sorry  to  lose  the  pleasure  that  The  Greenwoods  at  The 
Four  Oaks,  with  her  dolls  and  cheeriness,  had  furnished. 
It  had  been  the  best  advertisement  for  benevolence  they 
had  ever  had. 

"  They  go  to  school  there." 

"Why  did  you  leave  The  Four  Oaks?"  asked 
Robert. 

"  It  leaks,  and  Colonel  Kingston  is  afraid  I'll  injure 
his  trees." 

Colonel  Kingston  jumped.  He  had  expressed  a  fear 
to  that  effect,  but  would  rather  have  lost  the  trees  than 
have  stopped  The  Greenwoods  from  playing  in  his  yard. 
Who  had  reported  his  idle  remark? 

"  You  can  have  it  back  again,  Greenwoods.  I  don't 
want  it  any  more.  It  does  leak,  sure  enough !  " 

This  speech  laid  bare  the  whole  situation.  Mrs. 
Kingston  blushed  as  shamefacedly  at  this  revelation  of 
her  daughter's  selfishness  as  if  she  had  been  the  guilty 
party.  She  knew  what  would  be  said  when  it  was 
generally  learned  that  the  orphan  had  moved  her  toys, — 
both  knew  and  cared. 


138  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Marie,  did  you  take  The  Four  Oaks  away  from 
Sylvia?  I  hope  Mamma's  little  daughter  hasn't  been 
selfish." 

The  little  daughter  looked  confused,  at  least,  but  The 
Greenwoods  exonerated  her. 

"  She  didn't  take  it  from  me,  Mrs  Kingston.  She 
couldn't.  It  belongs  to  Marie's  papa !  " 

At  this,  the  second  broadside  he  had  received,  the 
kind-hearted  old  gentleman  started  again.  Not  exactly 
flattered  at  the  light  in  which  she  had  pictured  him,  he 
scowled  at  Marie,  and  prepared  to  defend  himself;  but 
his  wife  had  the  floor.  "  No,  Sylvia,  it  was  yours.  I 
gave  it  to  you  the  night  you  came.  You  should  have 
kept  it  and  have  told  me  that  Marie  was  trying  to  take 
it  from  you." 

"  You  told  me  she  didn't  want  it,  Mrs.  Kingston ;  but 
she  did.  If  I'd  a-known  that  I  wouldn't  have  asked  for 
it." 

Mrs.  Kingston, — who  had  almost  been  losing  sleep 
for  fear  that  the  orphan  might  impose  upon  Marie, — 
gasped,  and  reconstructed  her  opinion,  while  Colonel 
Kingston  took  up  the  argument. 

"  As  you  have  said,  Greenwoods,  The  Four  Oaks  be- 
longs to  me,  and  since  Marie  has  a  playhouse  of  her 
own,  she  must  play  there.  I  give  The  Four  Oaks  to 
you." 

"  Thanks,  Colonel  Kingston,  but  I  can't  accept  it. 
If  Marie  can't  play  where  she  pleases  in  her  own  papa's 
house  and  yard,  she's  in  a  bad  fix.  It  is  the  duty  of 
parents  to  help  their  own  children." 

This  silenced  him  and  Marie  broke  in :  "  But  I  don't 
want  it  any  more,  so  you  may  have  it." 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  139 

"  I  don't  want  it  either.  I'm  playing  Boarding 
School." 

"  Why  can't  you  play  Boarding  School  here?  "  The 
Colonel  had  returned  to  the  charge. 

"  Because  the  school's  at  Pearl's." 

"  But  can't  you  play  that  it  is  here?  " 

"  No,  sir,  it's  at  Pearl's." 

"  You  can't  have  your  dolls  scattered  all  over  the 
neighborhood,"  protested  Mrs.  Kingston,  who  had  re- 
covered from  her  shock. 

"  They're  not  scattered.     They're  all  at  Pearl's." 

Husband  and  wife  looked  to  Robert  for  assistance ; 
but  his  word  was  pledged.  He  understood  now  why 
The  Greenwoods  had  called  names  the  day  before,  but 
not  why  she  had  failed  to  give  her  reason  for  them. 
Marie  had  told  on  her,  why  had  she  not  retaliated? 
That  was  the  human  standard.  What  standard  did 
Woody  have?  Evidently  not  a  lower  one,  but  if  a 
higher,  why  did  she  cause  so  much  unrest? 

That  the  hubbub  might  be  caused  by  the  attitude  as- 
sumed toward  her  never  entered  his  head;  nor  did  he 
suspect  the  fun  germs. 

As  Robert  refused  to  help,  Colonel  Kingston,  nettled 
at  the  poor  showing  he  had  made,  reopened  the  attack. 

"  My  dear  little  girl,  if  anything  has  occurred  to 
hurt  your  feelings  or  to  displease  you,  you  must  tell 
us  about  it  and  we  will  try  to  do  better.  If  you  don't 
want  The  Four  Oaks  after  Marie's  selfishness,  we  will 
build  you  another  playhouse.  If  you  want  a  school- 
house,  we  will  make  you  one  on  the  premises ;  but  don't 
get  angry  and  leave  us." 

"  I'm  not  angry,  and  I'm  not  a  tattler.  Every- 
thing has  gone  just  exactly  to  suit  me,  and  my  feelings 


140  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

aren't  hurt!  So  what's  the  bother?  "  It  was  just  like 
the  Kingstons,  she  thought,  to  be  reopening  old  quar- 
rels, and  trying  to  break  up  a  new  game  at  the  ex- 
pense of  an  old  dead  one. 

"  Then  why  are  your  dolls  at  Pearl's  ?  " 

"  They  need  an  education.  I  won't  have  'em  grow  up 
ignoramuses !  " 

"  By  no  means !  Teach  them  all  you  please,  but  teach 
them  at  home." 

"  I'm  not  a  schoolteacher.  I  haven't  even  a  diploma 
to  teach  with." 

The  old  gentleman  was  discouraged,  and  Chester, 
— who  sympathized  with  both  parties, — came  to  his 
father's  assistance,  and  said,  with  his  most  ingratiat- 
ing air: 

"Isn't  this  vacation,  Miss  Forest?" 

"  Not  in  play-like.  In  play-like  this  is  the  first  of 
September." 

Walter  visibly  exulted,  and  Chester  tried  again. 
"  Won't  they  ever  come  home  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes, — when  I  go  back  to  France's."  Dismay  in 
the  camp. 

"  Please  bring  'em  back,  Woody.  I'll  give  you  The 
Four  Oaks,  and  let  you  keep  it  this  time.  I'm  sorry 
I  ever  took  it." 

"  There  ain't  no  Four  Oaks.    It's  all  washed  away !  " 

"  Then  you  can  have  my  playhouse." 

"  My  dolls  might  take  the  smallpox." 

"  Make  her  stop  it,  brother  Robert !  "  wept  Marie 
in  indignation, — "  make  her  stop  playing  my  things 
have  the  smallpox !  " 

"  'Course  they  haven't,"  was  the  soothing  reply, 
"  they're  drownded.  And  if  we  are  ever  a-going  to 


*THE  GREENWOODS"  141 

bury  'em  we'd  better  be  about  it.  We've  frittered  away 
enough  time  here  to  'a  buried  a  regiment !  " 

Colonel  Kingston  was  frowning  at  Marie,  while 
Chester  was  trying  to  soothe  her  lacerated  feelings,  and 
Walter  was  smiling  his  congratulations  at  the  tri- 
umphant young  culprit  who  had  floored  the  family. 
Mrs.  Kingston  turned  to  Robert  for  relief. 

"  You  must  insist  on  her  bringing  her  toys  back. 
This  won't  do!  Marie  was  selfish,"' — Marie's  wails 
grew  louder, — "  but  we  knew  nothing  of  it ;  and  she  has 
atoned  by  offering  her  playhouse." 

"  Still,  that  is  no  reason  why  I  should  make  Woody 
play  in  it,"  ventured  Robert. 

"  Besides,  it's  your  treat.  Don't  you  remember 
about  that — "  began  Woody. 

"  Remember  your  part,  Woody !  "  he  continued. 

"  Oh,  I  wasn't  a-going  to  tell  on  you." 

As  they  had  been  wondering  at  his  silence,  they 
looked  interested :  "  You  see,  mother,  I  am  powerless 
to  interfere,"  he  laughed,  "  But  if  you  have  any  special 
inducements  to  offer  her,  or," — there  was  a  twinkle  in 
his  eye, — "  since  you  believe  so  thoroughly  in  moral 
suasion,  you  might  try  the  efficacy  of  a  little  reason- 
ing." 

Everyone  laughed,  except  The  Greenwoods,  who 
smiled  her  approval  at  Mrs.  Kingston. 

"  Your  mamma  is  right,  Dr.  Kingston.  Moral  sua- 
sion is  the  only  stylish  way  to  bring  up  a  little  girl !  " 

"  I  don't  want  any  advice  from  you  on  that  subject, 
young  lady;  so  subside.  And  don't  put  any  reliance 
in  moral  suasion !  Why  doesn't  Marie  stop  crying !  " 

"  Because  it  wouldn't  be  decent !    Whoever  heard  of 


142  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

anybody  cheering  up  before  the  funeral?  You  cry  on, 
Marie !  Cry  like  your  heart  is  broke !  " 

"  Don't  cry,  Marie,"  pleaded  Mrs.  Kingston ; 
"  Mamma  will  buy  you  some  more  toys !  " 

"  I  don't  want  any  more  toys !  "  wailed  Marie,  "  I 
want  a  funeral !  Why  don't  you  leave  and  let  us  play  ? 
You  are  spoiling  the  funeral !  Oh,  my  heart  is  broke ! 
My  heart  is  broke !  " 

That  was  just  the  beginning  of  the  trouble.  While 
The  Greenwoods  continued  to  sleep  in  the  Kingston 
house,  and  "  to  eat," — as  she  elegantly  expressed  it, — 
"  the  Kingston  grub,"  she  had,  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, shaken  the  Kingston  dust  from  her  feet;  and  it 
was  a  testimony  against  them.  Mrs.  Kingston's  appre- 
hensions proved  correct :  the  neighbors  talked. 

About  this  time  the  mother  ceased  to  praise  Marie 
so  sedulously  in  public,  and  began  to  defend  that  model 
child  from  calumny. 

As  for  The  Greenwoods,  in  her  opinion  the  Kingstons 
were  the  most  excitable  people  she  had  ever  known, 
while  at  Pearl's  they  appreciated  fun  germs ;  yet,  after 
prolonged  negotiations, — conducted  mainly  by  the  mas- 
ter of  the  establishment, — she  consented  to  return.  She 
rented  The  Four  Oaks!  On  no  other  condition  would 
she  accept  it. 

They  haggled  shamefully  over  the  terms.  The  Col- 
onel insisted  on  a  nickel  a  year,  while  she  held  out  for 
a  quarter  a  month ;  but  at  length  they  compromised  on 
a  penny  a  week.  She  paid  promptly  every  Saturday 
night,  and  he  gave  her  a  receipt. 

They  became  the  best  chums  in  the  world  over  the 
game,  she  being  a  model  tenant  and  he  the  most  liberal 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  143 

of  landlords.  Those  pennies  reaped  her  a  harvest  of 
toys, — a  harvest  that  was  truly  amazing.  He  enjoyed 
his  game  with  Woody,  but  never  mentioned  it  in  public. 
He  was  sensitive  about  her  paying  even  a  nominal  price 
for  playing  in  his  yard,  and  knew  that  the  ill-natured 
would  misunderstand. 

But  this  was  before  he  discovered  that  Frances 
Faunce  was  supplying  the  pennies. 

It  had  been  taken  for  granted,  even  by  Robert  him- 
self, that  he  was  the  source  of  the  revenue.  Hadn't  he 
told  The  Greenwoods  to  ask  if  she  wanted  anything? 
The  painful  truth  was  made  known  on  the  evening  of 
the  third  pay  day,  an  hour  before  the  rent  was  due,  at 
the  dinner  table,  when  two  aunts  were  present, — both 
Perkinses ! 

The  tenant  asked  for  a  few  days'  grace  in  which  to 
meet  her  obligation,  because  Frances  had  been  slow 
about  sending  the  money.  It  was  a  simple  request,  but 
from  the  tumult  it  excited,  she  might  just  as  well  have 
refused  to  pay  at  all.  A  shocked  silence  followed.  Mrs. 
Kingston  turned  pale,  and  explanations  were  in  general 
demand. 

The  Greenwoods'  explanation  was  simple  and  to  the 
point.  She  had  needed  the  money  to  pay  rent  for  her 
dolls,  and  had  asked  France  for  it  because  she  wasn't 
any  beggar,  and  didn't  ask  anybody, — but  her  own 
adopted, — for  anything.  She  had  never  even  asked  her, 
till  she  came  to  live  with  the  Kingstons ;  for  her  adopted 
had  always  found  out  what  she  needed,  and  got  it  for 
her  without  the  asking. 

All  other  expositions  were  confused.  Robert's  made 
his  own  carelessness  more  conspicuous,  and  The  Green- 
woods' refinement  more  evident.  Colonel  Kingston's 


144  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

feeble  defense  only  sunk  him  deeper  in  the  mire,  while 
The  Greenwoods'  sterling  independence  glowed  resplen- 
dently,  and  every  excuse  that  Mrs.  Kingston  could 
make  was  at  the  expense  of  Robert  or  the  idolized  Marie, 
and  redounded  to  the  credit  of — The  Greenwoods ! 

The  aunts  were  plain-spoken  women,  who  had  not  yet 
forgiven  Robert  his  legacy;  and  they  failed  utterly  to 
understand  why  he  could  not  spare  the  orphan  a  penny 
a  week  to  pay  rent  for  her  dolls,  since  his  parents 
were  not  willing  for  them  to  stay  on  the  place  rent  free. 

If  Brother  Mark  had  left  the  money  to  their  boys, 
they  would  have  spared  the  child  a  penny, — even  a 
nickel, — occasionally!  Still,  if  Robert  couldn't  see  his 
way  to  let  the  orphan  have  one  cent  a  week  out  of  that 
million,  the  aunts  would  give  it  to  her  themselves,  rather 
than  have  her  apply  for  charity  to  the  Faunce  woman ! 

That  was  all  the  Perkins  aunts  had  to  say  about  it 
just  then;  but  they  told  the  rest  of  the  kin,  who  came 
to  find  out  if  The  Greenwoods  really  paid  rent  for  her 
dolls,  and  if  it  were  true  about  Bob's  penuriousness. 

It  resulted  in  a  definite  and  suitable  allowance  for 
The  Greenwoods,  and  won  for  her  Marie's  superstitious 
regard;  but  brought  only  humiliation  and  defamation 
to  all  others  concerned  in  the  transaction. 

Yet,  to  Colonel  Kingston's  everlasting  credit, — or 
perhaps  to  The  Greenwoods'  obstinacy, — the  game  went 
on. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THE  GREENWOODS  had  been  forbidden  to  quarrel 
with  Marie,  to  hurt  her  feelings,  or  to  touch  her  things ; 
yet,  because  of  the  exigence  of  the  case,  was  forced  to 
play  with  her.  Now,  since  Marie  objected  to  a  ma- 
jority of  the  games  and  her  mother  to  most  of  the 
others,  only  an  inconsiderable  modicum  was  left. 

Here  was  a  complicated  problem  to  solve,  but  with 
the  fun  germs'  help  Woody  found  the  solution.  She 
turned  Marie  into  a  game  by  means  of  which  both  chil- 
dren gave  expression  to  their  inner  natures.  The  game 
was  Pig. 

Marie  was  ignorant  of  her  part  in  this  game,  but 
played  it  extremely  well.  Whenever  Marie's  behavior 
suggested  the  sport  The  Greenwoods  called  out,  "  Pig !  " 
Marie  did  the  rest,  which  was  a  sort  of  jumping- jack 
performance,  and  very  enjoyable, — to  The  Greenwoods. 

Not  understanding,  however,  that  it  was  just  a 
game,  Marie  reported  it  to  her  big  brother,  who  ob- 
jected,— even  after  The  Greenwoods  explained,  inviting 
him  out  to  have  a  round.  So  Pig  had  to  be  abandoned 
as  a  regular  pastime. 

Hence  the  game  was  changed  to  hide-and-seek. 
Marie  played  this  as  well  as  she  had  Pig.  "  Swing 
me !  "  she  would  command.  The  Greenwoods  willingly 
obeyed  till  the  time  came  for  reciprocity.  Then  she 
stopped. 

"  Go  on,"  Marie  would  plead,  "  I'll  swing  you  later, — 
if  I'm  not  too  tired. 

Would  The  Greenwoods  complain,  sulk,  or  call 
145 


146  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

names?  By  no  means.  She  simply  changed  the  game; 
not  mentioning  it,  though,  which  is  where  the  fun  came 
in. 

Higher  and  higher  she  would  swing  Marie,  until, 
without  detriment  to  Marie's  neck,  immediate  escape 
was  impossible;  when  The  Greenwoods  hid.  Sometimes 
she  slipped  off,  leaving  Marie  to  hunt  for  her  at  leisure ; 
on  other  occasions  she  left,  with  a  wave  of  her  hand  and 
a  saucy  valedictory. 

Or  they  might  be  at  The  Four  Oaks  playing  dolls. 
"  Sew  this  button  on  my  doll's  dress,  please,  Woody." 
The  button  was  sewed. 

"  Thank  you,  Woody.     Now  get  me  some  water." 

To  refuse  meant  a  quarrel,  to  obey  was  tiresome; 
so, — silently  and  sweetly, — The  Greenwoods  changed 
the  game.  She  brought  the  water,  though, — in  about 
three  hours, — explaining  that  she  had  gone  to  Pearl's 
for  it. 

When  not  too  hurried  in  her  escape  she  asked  per- 
mission of  the  housekeeper,  but  when  this  was  not  ex- 
pedient, she  telephoned  for  permission  to  go, — after 
reaching  her  destination.  It  was  just  a  form,  and 
gradually  they  improved  it. 

This  game  Marie  was  powerless  to  change.  Neither 
mother  nor  brother  could  help  her.  Mrs.  Kingston 
had  tied  her  own  hands  by  refusing  to  assume  any  re- 
sponsibility, and  besides,  she  was  slowly  beginning  to 
realize  that  her  own  child  was  not  blameless,  and  Marie 
had  gone  to  her  brother  for  help  once  too  often. 

Robert  sympathized  with  his  sister  because  she  really 
loved  The  Greenwoods  and  wore  her  heart  upon  her 
sleeve  for  all  the  world  to  see;  while  The  Greenwoods 
only  tolerated  Marie.  Robert  too  had  tried  to  win  his 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  147 

ward's  friendship,  but  his  overtures  also  had  been  re- 
j  ected. 

On  one  occasion  The  Greenwoods  had  vanished, 
leaving  no  trace  that  Marie  could  find ;  so,  honestly  be- 
lieving that  she  had  run  away,  Marie  informed  big 
brother  of  his  ward's  misconduct.  Being  in  the  humor 
for  dealing  out  justice,  he  went  on  the  war-path, — and 
found  the  supposed  miscreant  in  the  kitchen,  peace- 
fully stemming  berries.  She  smilingly  offered  him  one, 
which  he  humbly  ate, — without  sugar, — as  a  penance 
for  misjudging  her. 

Then,  as  it  was  really  justice  he  was  after,  he  turned 
about  and  convicted  Marie  of  falsehood,  even  in  her 
mother's  eyes.  And  he  was  unjust  after  all,  for  Marie 
had  not  told  an  untruth  but  had  merely  been  mistaken 
in  her  facts. 

Colonel  Kingston  had  not  readily  forgiven  Marie's 
betrayal  of  his  remark  about  the  trees,  and  being 
forced  to  think  her  favorite  untruthful,  as  well  as  prone 
to  tale-bearing,  Mrs.  Kingston  moral-suaded  that 
poor  misjudged  little  girl  for  a  solid  hour.  After  that 
Marie  grew  careful  with  her  tattling. 

One  morning  the  two  children  were  engaged  in  shoe- 
polishing  Marie's  rain-washed  furniture.  All  went  well 
until  the  last  chair  had  been  renovated,  when  Marie 
was  seized  with  an  urgent  desire  to  shine  Belinda. 

Belinda,  being  the  apple  of  her  mother's  eye,  was 
rescued  in  indignation. 

"  Please,  Woody !  " 

"  You  are  crazy,  Marie !     Black  your  own  doll." 

"  I  can  black  Belinda,  if  I  want  to." 

The  Greenwoods  calmly  emptied  the  polish  on  the 
ground  and  flung  away  the  bottle. 


148  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"There!" 

"  I  shall  tell  my  brother  that  you  threw  away  a  whole 
bottle  of  my  mamma's  polish !  " 

Marie  darted  toward  the  "  lab."  and  The  Green- 
woods toward  the  gate.  The  former  hesitated. 
"  Where  are  you  going,  Woody  ?  Are  you  running  off  ? 
Stop,  or  I'll  tell !  " 

Woody  retreated  rapidly,  until  she  reached  the  gate, 
when  she  slowed  down  and  walked  unconcernedly  out. 

"Say  *  Bye-bye  '  to  the  lady,  Belinda,"  she  jeered; 
and  Belinda  obeyed,  in  a  high  and  squeaky  voice. 

"  If  you  run  away,  I  will  too." 

"  Better  ask  mamma,  little  daughter !  " 

"  I've  as  much  right  to  go  as  you !  " 

The  Greenwoods  being  almost  out  of  hearing,  Marie 
started  in  pursuit.  Until  a  month  before,  Marie  had 
been  unable  to  dress  a  doll  without  her  mamma's  ad- 
vice. Company  was  expected  for  lunch  too  and  the 
nurse  was  waiting  to  attire  her.  Time  had  been  when 
Marie's  greatest  pleasure  had  been  in  listening  to  the 
praises  of  Mrs.  Kingston's  guests.  The  Greenwoods 
had  demoralized  Marie,  but  was  making  a  normal  child 
of  her. 

Harriet,  the  charming  widow's  daughter,  saw  The 
Greenwoods  coming  and  ran  to  meet  her.  When  Marie 
reached  them  they  were  giggling  delightedly  over  some 
joke. 

"  Did  you  ask  your  mamma  ?  "  inquired  Woody. 

"  Did  you  ask  my  brother  Robert  ?  " 

"  It  wasn't  necessary.  Ain't  I  free  and  independent  ? 
But  when  you  treat  your  mamma  disrespectfully  you 
are  sinning."  She  spoke  scornfully. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  149 

"  You'll  think  you  are  a  sinner  too,  when  my  brother 
Bob  gets  through  with  you." 

"  The  Lord'll  look  after  me,  I  s'pose." 

"  You  got  sat  in  a  chair,  just  the  same,  and  stood  in 
a  corner,  and  locked  in  a  closet  for  calling  me  a  pig !  " 

"  I  never  got  prayed  over  though,  like  a  convict,  as 
as  you  did  the  day  I  was  stemming  berries." 

Marie  burst  into  tears,  and  The  Greenwoods  relented : 
"  Let's  have  a  show." 

"  Let's,"  agreed  Harriet. 

Shows,  dolls,  games,  and  the  ordinary  recreations  of 
youth  impressed  Marie  as  being  stupid  or  insipid.  She 
was  a  reversion  to  her  Puritan  forbears,  who,  deprived 
of  all  healthful  diversion,  were  forced  to  depend  for 
entertainment  on  the  great  human  drama  summed  up 
in  the  question :  "  Did  they  take  it  hard  ?  " 

"  Let's  have  a  funeral,"  she  begged. 

As  a  game  to  The  Greenwoods  was  merely  an  outlet 
for  the  joy  that  was  within  her,  she  assented. 

"  All  righty.    What'll  we  bury?  " 

"  Belinda !  "  said  Marie. 

"  We  won't,"  indignantly.  "  She's  not  dead,  anyhow. 
Haven't  you  something  dead,  Harriet?  " 

Harriet,  unnecessarily  shamefaced  considering  that 
she  had  never  pretended  to  run  a  morgue,  admitted  that 
she  had  not. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  suddenly  remembering,  "  there's  the 
chicken  they  killed  for  dinner  to-night." 

"  Won't  your  mamma  care  ? "  asked  The  Green- 
woods, who  knew  the  value  a  clear  conscience  adds  to 
a  game. 

"Why  should  she?  They  won't  need  it  till  this 
afternoon,  and  we  will  put  it  in  a  box  to  keep  it  clean." 


150  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

This  seemed  reasonable,  so  the  fowl  was  quietly  pro- 
cured and  solemnly  interred;  but  when  the  time  came 
for  returning  it  to  the  ice-box  Marie  objected. 

Marie's  imagination  was  developing  under  The 
Greenwoods'  stimulus,  but  it  was  still  backward.  She 
had  successfully  changed  the  chicken  into  the  widowed 
Harriet's  only  son,  but  was  unable  to  change  it  back 
again;  so  it  didn't  seem  decent  in  Harriet  to  want  to 
dig  him  up  and  eat  him.  Then  Marie  had  dug  the 
grave,  and  she  wanted  it  to  stay  dug. 

"  Why  didn't  Harriet  dig  the  grave  if  she  wanted  it 
undug,  and  let  me  be  the  mourner?  "  She  asked  the 
question  of  The  Greenwoods, — who  by  divine  right  was 
dictator  of  playland. 

"  Because  that  chicken  died  at  Harriet's  home,  and 
that  makes  her  the  mourner.  I  let  you  be  pall-bearers 
and  grave  digger  and  undertaker  and  friend  to  the 
family,  what  more  do  you  want?  " 

"  I  want  him  to  stay  buried !  " 

"  But  Mrs.  Wingo  needs  him  for  dinner,  Marie." 

"  Let  her  eat  steak." 

"  Mamma  can  have  him  if  she  wants  him,"  flashed 
Harriet.  "  Come  on,  Woody, — let's  dig  him  up." 

So  Marie,  forgetful  of  the  manner  of  her  going 
forth,  went  home  for  comfort. 

Mrs.  Kingston  was  in  the  drawing-room  in  the  midst 
of  her  family  and  guests.  They  were  amazed  at  the 
little  beauty's  appearance,  for  shoe-polishing  furniture 
and  digging  graves  are  not  cleanly  occupations. 

"Where  have  you  been,  looking  like  that,  Marie?" 
demanded  Mrs.  Kingston. 

"  I  had  as  much  right,"  began  Marie  stoutly,  "  to 
run  off  as  The  Greenwoods." 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  151 

"  Are  you  certain  she  ran  off?  "  asked  Robert,  who 
was  growing  sensitive  about  his  ward's  conduct. 

"  I'm  positive,"  said  Marie,  "  I  saw  her  go  and  talked 
to  her  about  it.  She  said  the  Lord  was  looking  after 
her,  and  she's  free  and  independent  and  it  wasn't  nec- 
essary for  her  to  ask.  But  I  had  as  much  right  to  go 
as  she  did.  It's  not  my  fault  I'm  no  orphan." 

The  laughter  that  the  opening  of  this  remark  had 
caused  was  hushed  at  its  close.  The  Greenwoods'  heresy 
was  already  bearing  fruit,  and  few  of  the  parents  in 
the  little  town  considered  it  amusing. 

Mrs.  Kingston  excused  herself,  and  led  Marie  from 
the  room. 

"  Why  do  you  want  to  be  an  orphan,  Marie  ?  "  she 
asked,  "  Have  I  ever  denied  you  a  pleasure?  Have  I 
ever  been  unkind  ?  Don't  you  love  your  mamma  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  do,  Mamma,"  and  Marie  threw  her  arms 
around  her  mother's  neck  and  burst  into  tears,  "  But 
Woody  puts  on  so  many  airs  about  being  an  orphan 
that  I'm  tired  of  it.  Besides,  she  made  fun  of  me  be- 
cause you  prayed  over  me, — like  a  convict !  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  had  a  temper,  and  at  this  mockery 
of  her  prayer  it  was  leveled  at  The  Greenwoods, — the 
touchstone  that  had  turned  Marie's  gold  to  brass,  set 
Marie  a  bad  example,  contaminated  her  with  false  doc- 
trines, lured  her  into  mischief,  planted  discord  between 
her  and  her  mother,  made  her  long  for  orphanhood, 
teased  her,  mocked  her,  disliked  her,  and  still  held  her 
love! 

"  Go  tell  your  nurse  to  bathe  you,  Marie,"  Mrs. 
Kingston  said  sternly,  and  stifling  her  rage,  returned 
to  her  guests. 

Yet,  when  The  Greenwoods,  having  slipped  in  the 


152  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

back  way  and  dressed,  came  in  to  lunch, — punctual  to 
the  dot,  clean,  sweet,  courteous,  and  self-possessed, — 
and  was  smiled  at  and  complimented  by  all,  Mrs.  King- 
ston's wrath  was  unassuaged. 

Mrs.  Kingston  was  not  an  ill-natured  woman,  but 
few  mothers  can  endure  having  a  little  daughter  always 
put  at  a  disadvantage.  And  while  The  Greenwoods,  with 
her  joyous  temperament,  seemed  younger  than  Marie, 
her  wide  experience  with  life  gave  her  the  advantage  in 
every  contest.  While  Marie  had  been  snugly  sheltered 
under  her  mother's  wing,  The  Greenwoods  had  learned 
to  take  care  of  herself. 

"  Did  you  run  away,  Woody  ?  "  asked  Robert.  He 
was  determined  that  the  child,  if  innocent,  should  not 
be  blamed,  nor,  if  guilty,  escape  punishment.  He  was 
eager  to  do  what  was  right  by  his  ward,  but  a  wiser 
than  he  might  have  been  puzzled  by  that  smiling  little 
personality,  who  caused  so  much  confusion,  yet  seemed 
to  be  constantly  and  remarkably  in  the  right. 

It  sometimes  looked  as  if  the  child  were  the  uncon- 
scious agent  of  some  higher  power, — a  power  that 
worked  through  her  to  bring  out  the  real  nature  of 
others. 

"  Gracious,  no !  "  answered  Woody,  "  Mother  Burns 
always  lets  me  go,  unless  there's  some  good  reason;  so 
I'd  hate  to  hurt  her  feelings.  I  asked  her  for  permis- 
sion before  breakfast."  And  so  she  had.  "  If  Marie 
gets  uppish  or  piggish  to-day,  Mother  Burns,  she  had 
said,  "  I'll  just  slip  over  to  Harriet's."  That  was  their 
system. 

Mrs.  Kingston  naturally  failed  to  understand  it, — as 
Maire  had, — and  her  cup  was  full.  The  public  thought 
Marie  told  falsehoods, — and  on  the  orphan. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  153 

"  And  did  you  say  you  are  free  and  independent," 
laughed  Chester,  "  and  that  God  is  looking  after  you  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes ;  "  she  smiled,  "of  course  I'm  indepen- 
dent. Do  I  look  like  the  pitiful  kind?  And  of  course 
God  is  looking  after  me.  That's  how  I  get  along." 

And  Robert,  gazing  meditatively  at  her,  began  to 
believe  that  it  was. 


CHAPTER  XX 

LUNCHEON  was  over  when  Marie,  having  disdained  the 
cold  dishes  set  before  her,  and  full  of  indignation  be- 
cause of  her  many  wrongs,  stepped  out  upon  the  porch 
where  her  brothers  were  smoking.  Her  only  consola- 
tion was  the  thought  of  the  punishment  in  store  for 
Woody.  What  then  was  her  surprise  at  seeing  that  in- 
superable young  creature  in  the  swing,  Walter  beside 
her,  and  both  full  of  glee. 

"  Brother  Robert,  The  Greenwoods  ran  away  as 
much  as  I  did!" 

"  Little  girls  shouldn't  tell  tales,"  admonished  Ches- 
ter. 

"  Nor  fibs,"  said  Robert. 

"  I  don't  tell  fibs !  "  And,  strange  to  say,  knowingly 
she  did  not.  She  told  the  truth, — even  when  it  was  on 
herself;  when  it  was  on  others  she  scattered  it  broad- 
cast. 

Catching  her  arm,  Robert  drew  her  to  him.  The 
sternness  in  his  eye  might  have  daunted  her,  had  she  been 
less  excited. 

"  Twice,  Marie,  I  have  caught  you  telling  deliberate 
untruths  on  The  Greenwoods.  Don't  let  it  happen 
again ! " 

"  I  didn't  tell  an  untruth !    She  did  run  away !  " 

"  Mrs.  Burns  gave  her  permission  to  go." 

"  She  didn't.  Woody  never  even  asked  her.  Turn 
me  loose,  brother  Robert,  or  I  will  scream ! " 

154 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  155 

Before  he  could  heed  her  warning,  she  had  kept  her 
word.  She  screamed,  she  yelled,  she  jumped  up  and 
down,  and  shook  her  fists.  The  Greenwoods  and 
Walter  ran  up,  and  the  former  was  delighted. 

"  I  do  believe  they  are  playing  Pig,"  she  said. 
"  And  Dr.  Kingston,  too, — after  all  his  preaching !  You 
try  it  sometimes,  Walter.  She  jumps  like  that  every 
time!" 

Walter  promised  and  looked  interested.  Chester  re- 
garded the  fury  with  awe,  and  Robert  stood  con- 
founded. The  servants  came  to  the  windows,  and  the 
guests  drew  near.  Mrs.  Kingston  ran  out,  appalled. 

"  Marie,  what  is  the  matter  ?  What  have  you  boys 
been  doing  to  her?  Tell  Mamma  about  it,  darling!  " 

"  She  wants  Bob,"  was  Chester's  explanation,  in  sten- 
torian tones,  for  the  din  was  great,  "  to  whip  Woody 
for  running  away !  " 

"  She  ought  to  be  whipped !  "  shrieked  Marie.  "  She 
ran  away  as  much  as  I  did.  And  I  was  punished!  I 
had  to  bathe !  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  blushed,  and  glanced  at  her  guests, 
to  find  them  laughing.  Walter  fell  over  on  the  grass 
and  roared !  It  was  long  before  Marie  heard  the  last  of 
that  bath.  Mrs.  Kingston  called  the  nurse,  and  to- 
gether they  led  the  victim  of  this  cruel  and  unusual 
punishment  into  the  house. 

"  I  hope  she  will  catch  it,"  quoth  Walter,  "  for  telling 
fibs  on  Woody." 

"  What  did  she  say?  "  asked  Woody,  who  had  been 
more  interested  in  the  tantrums  than  in  Marie's  re- 
marks. 

"  She  said  you  ran  away." 

"  That  wasn't  a  fib !    She  thought  I  did." 


156  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Didn't  you  have  permission  to  go  ?  "  asked  Robert, 
who  had  been  indignant  over  his  sister's  misrepresenta- 
tions. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  she  didn't  know  it.  I  kept  it  a  secret 
from  her  for  a  joke.  She  thinks  I  ran  away!"  She 
laughed  merrily,  while  her  guardian, — who  for  the  last 
hour  had  been  thinking  of  her  as  an  imposed  on  angel, — 
began  to  marvel  at  the  mischief  one  innocent  child  can 
cause. 

"I  'spect  I'd  better  'splain  to  Mrs.  Kingston,"  an- 
nounced this  selfsame  mischief  maker,  "  before  it's  too 
late."  And  she  skipped  around  to  the  steps. 

"  Don't  worry,"  called  out  Walter.  "  Nothing's  go- 
ing to  happen  to  Marie.  And  if  there  is,  don't  stop  it ! 
Let  her  find  out  how  it  feels.  She  wants  to  know." 

The  Greenwoods  hopped  up  the  steps  painstakingly 
on  one  foot.  "  Don't  interfere,  Sylvia,"  commanded 
Robert. 

"  No,  Octavius,"  acquiesced  The  Greenwoods,  thereby 
throwing  him  into  confusion ;  "  I'll  just  explain !  "  And 
humming  a  song,  she  tripped  jauntily  into  the  house. 
Opening  the  door,  without  knocking,  she  thrust  in  an 
impertinent  little  head.  "  'Scuse  me,  Mrs.  Kingston, 
but  I  thought  I'd  explain  about  Marie.  She  didn't 
mean  to  tell  a  fib." 

"  I  told  you  so,  Mamma !  "  sobbed  Marie,  "  she  did 
run  away ! " 

"  Come  in,  Sylvia,"  said  Mrs.  Kingston  gravely,  "  I 
wish  to  speak  with  you." 

Realizing  that  it  is  easier  to  get  into  a  family  squabble 
than  out  again, — a  truth  of  which  she  had  been  often 
reminded, — The  Greenwoods  entered.  "  I  didn't  run 
away,  but  Marie  thought  I  did.  I  kept  it  a  secret  from 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  157 

her  for  a  joke,  because  she  wanted  to  shoe-polish 
Belinda." 

"  So  you  pretended  to  run  away  to  tease  Marie !  " 
She  turned  to  her  daughter.  "  Let  this  teach  you, 
Marie,  to  place  no  further  reliance  on  anything  Sylvia 
says  or  does.  She  keeps  you  in  a  fret  from  morning 
till  night,  and  while  leading  you  into  mischief,  always 
contrives  to  keep  her  own  skirts  clear.  If  you  are  wise, 
you  will  avoid  her  in  the  future !  Now  you  may  go. 
Sylvia,  remain !  I  wish  to  speak  to  you  about  your  un- 
grateful conduct  and  the  mistaken  views  you  hold  of 
your  importance  in  society !  " 

Without  one  plea  for  the  girl  who  had  just  come  to 
her  assistance, — glad,  in  fact,  that  The  Greenwoods  at 
last  was  to  get  her  dues, — Marie  left  the  room,  feeling 
herself  exonerated.  Descending  the  stairs,  she  met 
Walter,  and  exclaimed  in  triumph : 

"  Now  I  guess  you'll  believe  me !  I  didn't  tell  a  fib. 
She  made  me  think  she  did.  She's  a  hypocrite !  " 

He  regarded  his  sister  with  disgust.  "  And  that's 
the  way  you  talk  of  her, — is  it?  And  after  she  has 
just  got  you  out  of  trouble !  You  are  not  decent,  Marie 
Kingston !  No  wonder  you  hate  to  bathe !  " 

Even  in  her  own  estimation  Marie  commenced  to 
shrink;  and  when  she  met  Robert, — who,  in  cold  dis- 
pleasure, ignored  her  in  passing, — she  spoke  more 
timidly,  though  still  trying  to  justify  herself. 

"  Brother  Robert,  I  didn't  tell  a  fib." 

"  So  The  Greenwoods  has  told  us.  Would  you  have 
done  the  same  for  her?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  You  never  have.    You  tell  often  enough,  but  never 


158  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

to  get  her  out  of  a  scrape.  After  all  your  tattling, 
don't  you  think  it  was  sweet  of  her  to  help  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  she  answered  meekly.  And  as  she  passed 
on,  she  felt  for  the  first  time  a  wreath  upon  her  head, — 
a  wreath  of  coals  of  fire. 

When  she  met  Chester  she  tried  to  pass  unseen.  He 
smiled,  and  said,  slipping  his  arm  around  her: 

"  So,  little  sister,  you  didn't  tell  a  fib,  after  all?  " 

"  I  told  you  all  the  time  I  didn't," — mournfully. 
"  You  should  have  believed  me.  I  never  had  told  one 
before !  Nobody  loves  me !  " 

"  We  all  love  you,  Marie  That's  why  we  hate  to  see 
you  act  so  badly.  I  beg  your  pardon  for  doubting  you, 
but  you  were  trying  so  hard  to  drag  The  Greenwoods 
into  the  scrape  that  we  were  disgusted.  So  many 
tattlers  do  tell  fibs  that  you  should  keep  out  of  their 
class.  Except  for  Woody,  we  should  always  have 
thought  you  a  liar." 

After  that  Marie  slunk  away,  to  weep  in  secret, — 
not  in  sorrow  for  what  she  had  done,  but  that  it  should 
be  held  in  poor  esteem.  Everything  worked  to  Woody's 
credit,  while  Marie's  every  word  and  deed  immeshed 
her  in  a  web  of  wrong.  All  because  Woody  was  an 
orphan  and  beloved  of  God !  Didn't  God  love  anyone 
but  orphans  ?  "  Oh,  yes,"  she  seemed  to  hear  The 
Greenwoods  say,  "  but  you've  got  to  be  polite !  " 

Marie  knew  what  that  meant,  for  The  Greenwoods 
had  drilled  her  in  the  faith. 

She  must  stop  tattling ;  stop  being  selfish ;  stop  brag- 
ging because  she  was  rich;  do  for  others  sometimes, 
instead  of  making  them  do  for  her  all  the  time,  and  she 
must  play  fair.  Above  all,  she  must  be  kind  to  those 
less  fortunately  situated, — which  was  the  hardest  of 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  159 

all ;  for  so  many  were  less  fortunate  than  Marie  that  it 
would  result, — in  theory,  at  least, — in  her  being  under- 
dog to  every  girl  in  town ! 

Marie's  elders  had  made  her  believe  that  she  was 
perfect,  but  The  Greenwoods  had  frankly  pointed  out 
her  defects.  Yet  those  who  had  formerly  praised  her 
blamed  her  now,  while  she, — who  had  shown  Marie  her 
errors, — now  took  her  part.  The  girl  whom  God  loved 
was  on  Marie's  side. 

Ashamed  of  the  past,  but  feeling  magnanimous  over 
her  present  good  intentions,  Marie,  to  prove  her  grati- 
tude, flew  to  Woody's  rescue.  She  was  too  late.  Mrs. 
Kingston  was  bidding  her  guests  good-bye.  The  Green- 
woods,— as  usual, — had  disappeared. 

The  grace  of  The  Greenwoods'  intervention  had  been 
lost  on  Mrs.  Kingston  as  well  as  on  Marie,  while  the 
allusion  to  the  joke  had  been  ill  timed.  Too  many 
smiles  are  almost  as  annoying  as  too  many  sighs.  To 
one  who  believes  this  a  vale  of  tears  a  Greenwoods  seems 
sadly  out  of  place;  at  times,  mocking-birds  and  roses 
seem  the  same.  All  are  not  tuned  to  a  single  key,  and 
some  prefer  the  blasts  of  winter  to  June's  most  perfect 
day;  from  sunshine  long  for  rain. 

So  Mrs.  Kingston  had  thrown  down  the  flood-gates 
and  had  let  the  torrent  rage.  She  said  much  that  was 
uncalled  for,  much  that  was  unwomanly,  much  that  was 
cruel.  When  she  had  finished,  it  was  not  the  free  and 
independent  favorite  of  high  Heaven  that  slipped  so 
silently  and  heart-brokenly  away;  it  was  just  a  poor 
little  orphan, — the  pitiful  kind! 

The  tempest  was  over  now,  and  Mrs.  Kingston  was 
ashamed.  Having  abandoned  herself  to  her  rage,  she 
surrendered  to  her  conscience,  which,  having  taken  a 


160  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

rest,  began  to  work  overtime.    Marie  entered  like  a  gad- 
fly, and  asked :    "  Where  is  The  Greenwoods,  Mamma  ?  " 
"  I  don't  know," — wearily. 

"  I  hope  you  didn't  scold  her.  She  hadn't  done 
wrong,  and  it  would  have  been  unkind,  after  she  had 
come  to  get  me  out  of  a  scrape." 

"  Didn't  she  persuade  you  to  run  away  ?  " 
"  She  tried  to  keep  me  from  it.  She  said  time  and 
again  I  ought  to  ask.  She  says  children  must  obey 
their  parents,  for  even  if  the  parents  don't  care,  God 
does.  She  is  a  lovely  girl!  It  is  an  education  just 
to  hear  her  fuss." 

"  Then  why  do  you  complain  so  constantly?  " 

"  You  told  me  to  stand  up  for  my  rights,  and  to  let 

you  know  when  people  don't  do  to  suit  me !     I  thought 

you  liked  me  to  tell  you  everything!    Nobody  ever  told 

me  tattling  was  wrong  but  Woody.     She's  so  improv- 

ing!" 

"  Wasn't  she  teasing  you  ?  " 

"  It  was  just  the  opposite^  I  was  trying  to  black 
Belinda!" 

All  the  unkind  words  Mrs.  Kingston  had  spoken 
came  back  and  settled  on  her  breast.  Still,  she  thought, 
Sylvia  was  young  and  shallow  and  would  soon  forget. 
Yet  Mrs.  Kingston's  conscience  needed  pacifying. 

"  Run  and  ask  her  to  ride  with  us,  Marie." 

Marie  sprang  up  eagerly. 

"  May  she  take  Belinda,  Mamma  ?  Belinda  loves  to 
ride,  but  brother  Robert  never  takes  her.  Folks  are 
mean  to  Woody  and  her  things.  I  wouldn't  stand  it !  " 

"  Tell  her  I  shall  be  pleased  to  have  Belinda." 

Having  taken  the  first  step  in  the  direction  of  a  rec- 
oncilation,  Mrs.  Kingston  felt  relieved,  and  began  to 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  161 

meditate  ways  and  means  of  taking  the  sting  from  her 
words.  She  recalled,  with  pleasure,  The  Greenwoods' 
freedom  from  resentment.  She  had  inculcated  in  her 
own  offspring  a  sense  of  dignity  and  a  knowledge  of 
their  rights,  and,  while  in  Marie's  case  she  had  been  a  lit- 
tle too  successful,  no  one  offended  them  with  impunity. 
Nevertheless,  she  was  glad  that  The  Greenwoods  was 
different.  While  less  profound,  perhaps,  she  was 
easier  to  live  with. 

"  I  can't  find  her,  Mamma,"  reported  Marie.  "  She 
is  hiding  somewhere,  and  won't  come  back  till  she  is 
ready.  So  there's  no  use  worrying." 

"  Perhaps  she  is  with  Robert." 

"  What's  he  punishing  her  for  now?  " 

"  Can't  she  be  with  him  without  being  punished  ?  To 
hear  you  talk,  Marie,  a  stranger  would  think  we  were 
mistreating  the  child !  " 

The  Greenwoods,  even  in  her  naughtiest  moment,  had 
never  followed  the  path  to  the  laboratory  with  more 
trepidation  than  did  Robert's  mother  to  ask  for 
Robert's  ward.  If  he  knew  how  she  had  spoken  to  the 
Greenwoods,  he  would  take  the  child  away  in  anger, — 
a  consummation  before  which  the  mother  trembled. 
But  he  too  was  absent.  Picturing  the  two  together, 
with  the  much  wronged  child  pouring  out  the  story  of 
her  mistreatment,  Mrs.  Kingston  went  to  ride. 

Robert  returned  a  few  minutes  after  she  did, — alone. 
An  anxious  group  surrounded  him  with  their  queries; 
for  Mrs.  Kingston's  uneasiness  had  pervaded  the  house- 
hold. As  the  lady's  fears  for  herself  subsided,  her  anx- 
iety for  The  Greenwoods  increased. 

"Where  is  Sylvia,  Robert?  I  thought  she  was  with 
you." 


162  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I  have  no  idea.    Where  is  she,  Mother  Burns  ?  " 

Mother  Burns  was  worried.  Never  before  had  The 
Greenwoods  gone  without  informing  her  either  before 
or  immediately  after  leaving,  but  how,  after  all  that  ado 
in  the  morning  about  the  supposed  runaway,  was  a 
doting  old  woman  to  declare  her  beloved  guilty  in  the 
afternoon?  Still  The  Greenwoods  might  be  lost  and 
should  be  found.  Mrs.  Burns  hesitated. 

"  After  all  that  disturbance  this  morning  about  her 
leaving,  do  you  mean  to  say  she  has  gone  now !  "  Hav- 
ing been  put  to  much  pains  to  establish  his  ward's  in- 
nocence, Robert  was  indignant  at  her  prompt  defection. 

"  Why,  Dr.  Kingston !  "  Mother  Burns  had  found 
her  voice,  "  To  think  of  you  accusing  that  angel  child 
of  such  a  thing !  " 

"  Oh,  you  know  where  she  is  then." 

"  Somewhere  on  this  place,  of  course.  She  would 
never  have  left  without  telling  me.  I  never  before  knew 
so  considerate  a  child !  " 

"  Then  why  so  much  excitement,  if  she  is  at  home  ? 
Can't  she  breathe  without  creating  a  commotion?  We 
permit  her  to  monopolize  too  much  time  and  atten- 
tion !  " 

"  But,  Robert,  we  can't  find  her !  She  has  disap- 
peared !  "  said  Mrs.  Kingston. 

"  Then  have  the  place  thoroughly  searched  and  send 
a  servant  to  Pearl's  or  Harriet's  for  her.  I'm  hungry. 
Let's  have  dinner." 

It  was  plainly  to  be  seen  that  he  was  incensed.  He 
had  been  living  in  an  uproar  ever  since  his  ward's  ar- 
rival and  was  tired  of  her  vagaries.  She  was  not  at 
Pearl's,  though,  nor  at  Harriet's,  and  could  not,  in  spite 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  163 

of  Mother  Burn's  insistence,  be  found  upon  the  place. 

"  She  may  be  lost " 

"  Lost !  "  Robert  looked  at  his  mother  in  amazement, 
"  how  could  a  child  of  her  intelligence  get  lost  in  Way- 
ville?  " 

"  Kidnapped,  then,"  said  Chester  bluntly. 

"  Then  God  pity  the  misguided  soul  who  stole  her. 
She'll  talk  him  to  death !  " 

"  You  take  it  easily,  Bob,"  remarked  Colonel  King- 
ston sternly ;  "  and  seem  to  be  thinking  more  of  your 
authority  than  of  The  Greenwoods ;  but  the  rest  of  Us 
are  worried." 

"  I'm  worried  too !  She's  turning  me  gray-headed. 
But  the  fact  that  she  is  late  to  dinner  isn't  making  me 
hysterical.  And  while  I  have  forbidden  her  to  leave 
the  place  without  permission,  I'm  not  losing  my  ap- 
petite over  her  disobedience." 

*'  If  I  were  only  certain  of  her  safety,  Robert " 

"  She  is  perfectly  safe,  mother,  wherever  she  is.  We 
are  the  ones  who  are  in  danger.  If  we  are  not  careful, 
we  shall  starve.  We  had  a  row  at  breakfast,  luncheon 
was  a  disturbance  instead  of  a  meal,  and  now  dinner 
is  a  failure.  The  children  should  eat  in  the  nursery." 
Mrs.  Kingston  frowned,  then  smiled  reassuringly  at 
Marie.  "  If  some  kind  fairy  would  change  The  Green- 
woods into  a  woman  of  twenty-one  and  set  me  free,  I 
would  lose  the  intervening  years  out  of  my  life  without 
a  sigh!" 

House  and  grounds  were  gone  over  time  and  again, 
while  inquiries  were  made  at  all  the  places  she  was 
known  to  visit,  but  no  trace  of  The  Greenwoods  was 
found.  Even  Robert  began  to  worry.  The  servants 
were  cross-examined,  criers  were  sent  through  the 


164  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

village,  detectives  were  hastily  employed,  but  without 
avail.  Search-parties  were  organized,  for  the  hunt  for 
a  lost  child  appeals  to  the  hardest  heart,  and  the  more 
so  when  the  child  happened  to  be  The  Greenwoods,  in 
whom  every  one  was  interested. 

After  a  month's  residence  in  the  New  England  village 
she  had  formed  a  personal  acquaintance  with  nearly 
every  one  of  its  inhabitants.  She  had  dispensed  score- 
cards  at  bridge  functions,  had  gone  to  parties  with 
Marie,  to  the  hospital  with  Dr.  Kingston,  motoring  with 
the  Colonel,  and  to  the  country  club  with  Chester.  She 
had  attended  prayer-meetings  with  Mrs.  Burns,  mass 
with  the  cook,  and  motion-picture  shows  with  Walter; 
she  had  gone  visiting  with  the  maids  and  nearly  every- 
where that  her  own  sweet  fancy  led  her. 

Cab  drivers  were  her  chums;  messenger  boys,  her 
admirers;  wash-women,  her  advisers.  She  had  in- 
structed gardeners  in  the  art  of  planting  potatoes,  and 
lectured  butchers  about  killing  little  calves.  Every- 
body in  the  whole  community  called  her  "  Greenwoods." 
She  was  as  high  as  the  proudest,  as  low  as  the  most 
humble,  and  at  home  with  all.  Her  friends  were  legion ; 
and  they  had  come  to  find  her, — if  they  could. 

The  Kingstons, — who  were  exclusive  and  moved  in 
circles  most  select ;  whose  manners  were  stiff  and  greet- 
ings distant,  who  looked  askance  at  those  with  no  cre- 
dentials to  present, — were  astounded  at  the  number  bf 
her  friends  and  wondered  how  she  had  met  them. 

It  was  the  strangest  party  that  ever  looked  for  a 
lost  child.  All  were  anxious,  but  they  laughed  in- 
cessantly, "  Do  you  remember?  "  some  one  would  ask, 
and  then  would  follow  another  joke  or  story  of  The 
Greenwoods'. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  165 

"  They  say  she  is  tired  of  the  Kingstons  and  has  gone 
back  to  live  with  that  girl  down  South, — the  one  that 
jilted  Mr.  Perkins !  " 

"  I  don't  see  why.  She  has  had  more  fun  than  was 
ever  had  in  this  town  before.  Do  you  remember 

And  on  it  went.  It  was  impossible  to  speak  of  her 
without  a  lightening  of  the  heart.  She  had  planted 
smiles,  and  the  harvest  could  not  be  tears. 

Yet  one  there  was  who  did  not  smile,  but  walked  the 
floor  all  night  with  the  grim  realization  that  she  had 
driven  the  orphan  forth.  But  despite  her  dread  and 
haughtiness,  Mrs.  Kingston  was  afraid  to  admit  her 
guilt;  afraid  of  the  judgment  of  her  son. 

Robert,  beneath  his  anxiety,  was  almost  certain  that 
this  was  only  one  more  prank,  and  was  nearly  savage. 
He  believed  that  she  had  calmly  moved  away,  and  some- 
where was  safe,  and  laughing  at  him. 

Night  went  by  without  a  clue,  and  morning  dawned. 
The  search  went  on.  The  villagers  had  never  been  so 
worried,  nor  laughed  so  much.  A  reward  was  offered 
for  the  child,  and  with  the  lapse  of  every  hour  that 
reward  grew  in  size.  Reporters  rushed  to  the  scene,  and 
special  editions  were  got  out ;  for  the  kidnapping  of  the 
ward  of  the  young  millionaire  society  physician, — 
whose  fortune  depended  on  her  recovery, — was  an  item 
of  no  slight  interest.  By  morning  she  was  the  most 
celebrated  child  in  America.  And  then  they  found  her. 

The  Greenwoods  had  not  been  lost  at  all.  She  had 
not  been  off  the  place.  She  had  simply  been  taking 
a  nap  in  an  empty  feed-box  in  the  barn,  and  she  wanted 
to  know  if  dinner  was  ready,  for  she  was  "  good  and 
hungry."  What  was  the  excitement  about  anyhow? 
And  if  they  had  wanted  to  find  her,  why  hadn't  they 


166  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

looked  for  her  in  the  feed-box,  where  she  was?  They 
ought  to  have  known  she  was  somewhere  around! 
Wouldn't  she  have  told  Mother  Burns  if  she  had  left? 
The  Kingstons  were  just  too  nervous ! 

Mother  Burns  never  tired  of  saying,  "  I  told  you  so !  " 
And,  for  that  matter,  neither  did  Robert.  Hadn't  he 
said  she  was  perfectly  safe?  In  fact,  everybody  said 
the  same  thing  to  everybody  else ;  for  they  had  said  no 
harm  could  touch  The  Greenwoods,  and  that  she  would 
be  laughing  at  them  by  morning. 

To  her  it  had  been  a  strange  weird  experience, — this 
afternoon's  siesta, — bringing  her  into  touch  once  more 
with  friends  she  had  forgotten,  confirming  her  optimism 
and  conceit,  and  justifying  her  belief  that  she  was  a 
protegee  of  the  Highest. 

Her  faith  had  been  shaken,  so, — believing  that  God 
cared  no  more  for  her  than  He  did  for  children  with 
fathers  and  mothers  to  cherish  them,  that  heaven  was  a 
long  way  off,  that  the  angels  had  forgotten  her,  that 
she  was  unloved,  unwanted  in  the  world, — she  had 
slipped  out  to  the  barn  to  hide  her  grief  and  loneliness 
from  human  eyes.  There,  in  lieu  of  a  better  friend,  she 
had  confided  her  misery  to  Dandy  (Marie's  pony,  but 
The  Greenwoods'  pet),  and  cried  herself  to  sleep. 

Then  she  awoke!  And  it  seemed  that  half  the  world 
had  come  to  give  the  lie  to  Mrs.  Kingston's  cruel  words, 
to  soothe  The  Greenwoods'  feelings,  and  to  welcome  her 
back  from  the  realm  of  dreams  with  songs  and  shouts 
of  gladness.  Mrs.  Kingston  herself  was  crying  for  joy 
that  the  child  she  had  scorned  was  safe;  while  the  en- 
tire population  of  the  town,  rich  and  poor,  old  and 
young,  came  thronging  up  to  say  how  glad  they  were 
to  see  her,  and  to  laugh  over  her,  cry  over  her,  and  kiss 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  167 

even  her  tiny  feet, — after  her  guardian  had  put  her  on 
his  shoulder  in  order  to  save  her  from  the  caresses  of 
the  crowd. 

Nor  was  that  all.  Frances  and  the  Baltimore  friends 
had  been  crying  all  night  because  they  didn't  know 
where  The  Greenwoods  was  taking  her  nap ;  and  all  day 
telegrams  came  pouring  in  from  every  part  of  the  big 
United  States  bearing  messages  of  love  from  the  girls  of 
the  finishing  school,  from  the  convent  worshipers,  from 
mothers  whose  names  she  had  forgotten,  from  a  famous 
general  whom  she  had  studied  about  in  her  history  and 
who  turned  out  to  be  her  godfather, — and  they  all 
wanted  her  to  visit  them,  or  live  with  them  forever. 

So  she  grew  mightily  ashamed  of  the  tears  she  had 
shed  about  a  few  hard  words,  and  smiled  an  abashed 
apology  at  earth  and  Heaven  for  having  allowed  her- 
self to  worry  about  anything  poor  nervous  old  Mrs. 
Kingston  had  said. 

She  waved  a  farewell  at  the  crowd  and  sent  them 
laughing  home.  Then  the  Kingstons  crowded  about 
her  and  talked  it  over. 

"  What  were  you  doing  in  the  barn,  Greenwoods  ?  " 
asked  Robert,  smiling  at  his  recovered  responsibility, — 
with  joy  at  having  her  again,  and  gratitude  that  she  had 
not  run  away. 

Blushing  at  the  query,  she  hesitated.  Not  for  mil- 
lions would  she  have  admitted  playing  the  cry-baby 
over  such  a  trifle ;  so  she  glanced  furtively  at  Mrs.  King- 
ston, wondering  if  the  lady  would  uphold  her  in  a  fib. 
She  little  dreamed  that  that  same  haughty  lady  was 
quaking  in  her  shoes. 

"  I  went  to  give  Marie's  pony  a  banana,"  she  mur- 


168  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

mured  in  embarrassment.  "  He  is  such  a  darling  pony, 
and  just  loves  'em !  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  smiled.  After  all,  why  should  one  ob- 
ject to  a  child  as  charming  as  The  Greenwoods?  Why 
not  accept  her  for  the  pleasure  that  she  gave?  Mrs. 
Kingston  had  long  known  of  her  desire  for  a  pony,  but 
for  petty  spite  had  failed  to  make  it  known.  Now  she 
resolved  to  give  her  one.  But  she  had  waited  too  long. 
Everybody  else  in  the  family  had  made  the  same  resolu- 
tion. 

"  Greenwoods,"  demanded  Robert,  aghast  at  his 
negligence ;  "  have  you  been  wanting  a  pony  all  this 
time,  and  haven't  told  me  ?  " 

"  You  may  have  mine !  "  said  Walter  promptly,  while 
at  the  same  instant  Chester  asked  what  color  she  pre- 
ferred. 

"You're  too  late,  Chess,"  exulted  Walter;  "I've 
given  her  one  already." 

"  She  hasn't  accepted  it,  though.  Miss  Forest,  I 
beg  you " 

"  Don't  quarrel,  boys,"  said  Colonel  Kingston,  "  I 
will  furnish  my  tenant's  stable.  I  have  a  penny  to  in- 
vest." 

"  You  may  furnish  the  stable,  Papa.  I've  given  her 
the  pony." 

"  As  the  young  lady's  guardian,  the  privilege  is 
mine,"  said  Robert. 

"  But  you've  slept  on  your  rights,  Bob.  Now  stand 
aside ! " 

With  no  intermission  whatever,  The  Greenwoods  had 
started  another  commotion.  The  Kingstons  were  upset 
again,  and  every  one  was  in  earnest.  Marie  settled  it. 

"  Woody  is  my  best  friend ;  she  stood  by  me  yester- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  169 

day  when  the  rest  of  you  were  down  on  me,  and  she  got 
scolded  for  it.  So  now  I  give  her  Dandy,  to  make  up 
and  prove  I  love  her !  " 

"  You  blessed  angel ! "  shrieked  The  Greenwoods, 
rushing  for  the  door;  and  the  other  applicants  knew 
that  her  choice  was  made.  "  May  the  orphan's  blessing 
rest  upon  your  head,  Marie.  *  I  wish  you  good  luck  in 
the  Name  of  the  Lord.  For  thy  brethren  and  com- 
panion's sakes,  I  wish  thee  prosperity.  Yea,  because 
of  thy  loving  kindness,  I  will  seek  to  do  thee  good.' 
Now  I  am  a-going  to  ride  that  pony,  and  don't  nobody 
hinder  me !  " 

She  was  hindered  though,  while  Robert  inquired: 

"  Why  didn't  you  ask  me  for  a  pony,  Greenwoods  ? 
Didn't  you  know  I  would  give  you  one?  " 

"  I  was  ashamed  to, — in  this  house." 

Another  commotion  occurred, — a  secret  one  this 
time.  Marie  trembled;  Robert  looked  uneasy,  for, 
though  unwittinglv,  he  had  been  close-fisted  with  his 
ward;  Colonel  Kingston  wondered  if  he  had  made  any 
more  uncharitable  remarks,  while  Mrs.  Kingston,  who 
had  begrudged  the  child  almost  the  air  she  breathed, 
shuddered  and  waited  for  the  blow. 

"  Why,"  asked  Robert,  "  what  is  wrong  with  this 
house  that  you  can't  ask  favors  in  it?  " 

"  Why," — she  included  Walter,  Chester,  and  their 
father  in  a  grateful  smile, — "  every  day  since  I've  been  in 
it  I've  got  a  present !  Now  wouldn't  I  have  been  a  pig 
to  ask  for  more  ?  " 

Then  she  went  for  her  ride;  and  all  the  men  and 
boys  cheered  her  as  she  passed,  and  all  the  women  and 
girls  threw  kisses. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

AT  last  Mrs.  Kingston  was  ready  to  extend  the  right 
hand  of  good  fellowship  to  her  son's  ward,  but  hoping 
that  a  tacit  understanding  would  develop,  she  neither 
apologized  for  her  remarks  nor  withdrew  them ;  and 
The  Greenwoods  remained  smilingly  oblivious  of  her 
overtures. 

The  difference  in  the  two  natures  could  not  be  har- 
monized. The  children  of  this  world  love  darkness 
rather  than  light,  so  Mrs.  Kingston  considered  black 
the  most  respectable  clothing  for  the  mind,  while  that 
of  The  Greenwoods  was  rose-colored, — which  wears 
better  than  black,  washes  better,  and  is  more  hygienic. 
So  the  two  remained  as  far  apart  as  ever. 

Yet  Robert  and  Marie  profited  by  Mrs.  Kington's 
change  of  heart.  The  Greenwoods'  star  was  in  the  as- 
cendant; and  peace  reigned,  and  joy,  and  jollity. 

Still,  even  in  this  era  of  good-will  the  other  members 
of  the  household  were  benefited  more  than  The  Green- 
woods. She  was  worried  and  at  outs  with  the  world. 

Her  grievance  against  society  was  strengthened  by 
the  sequel  to  the  chicken  funeral,  which  Harriet  de- 
scribed on  her  first  visit  after  the  episode.  The  Green- 
woods listened,  with  a  cynical  smile. 

"  You  shouldn't  have  told  your  mamma  about  it, 
Harriet,"  she  advised.  "  They're  always  like  that ! 
Never  speak  to  'em  when  you  can  help  it!  It  will  get 
you  into  trouble  every  time." 

170 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  171 

Both  Harriet  and  Marie  were  silent.  How  could 
they  avoid  speaking  to  their  mothers? 

"  When  I  see  the  fool  way  they  behave  theirselves, 
and  hear  their  fool  talk,  and  read  their  fool  letters, 
I'm  glad  all  my  folks  are  angels.  I  don't  see  why  the 
Lord  doesn't  get  tired  and  stop  making  'em,  anyway !  " 

"  Mothers  ?  "  gasped  Harriet. 

"  All  grown  folks !     What  are  they  good  for  ?  " 

"  Why,  what  would  we  do  without  our  mammas  ?  " 
asked  Harriet,  tf  You're  just  sore  because  you  haven't 
any,  Greenwoods !  " 

"  I've  got  a  mamma  all  right,  Harriet,  but  she  don't 
walk  around  wrapped  up  in  meat  like  yours!  She 
shook  the  meat  and  turned  into  an  angel, — just  like  I 
shall.  But  I  didn't  mean  parents  so  much  as  grown 
folks  in  general.  Parents  are  blessings  to  those  what 
have  'em  and  ought  to  be  appreciated  and  obeyed.  But 
my  blessing  is  independence.  And  since  God  thinks  I 
have  sense  enough  to  get  along  without  a  parent,  I  don't 
see  why  grown  folks  are  always  butting  in." 

"  Because  you  are  just  a  little  girl,"  said  Harriet. 
"  Mamma  said  you  should  be  spanked  for  talking  so !  " 

"And  sense  hasn't  anything  to  do  with  it,"  added 
Marie.  "  I've  got  as  much  sense  as  you,  and  I'm  no 
orphan ! " 

With  calm  superiority  The  Greenwoods  demolished 
them  both.  "  If  the  Lord  thought  I  needed  any  teach- 
ing, Harriet,  He'd  have  left  one  of  my  own  parents  here 
to  do  it.  God  knows  best.  When  He  wants  a  thing  done 
He  gets  it  done,  and  He  wants  me  to  be  free  and  inde- 
pendent! And  you  can  just  tell  your  mamma,  Harriet, 
that  spankings  have  gone  out  of  style,  and  she  shows 
her  ignorance  by  speaking  of  'em !  " 


172  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

Having  squelched  Harriet,  The  Greenwoods  turned 
to  Marie.  "  And  some  folks  may  think,  Marie,  that 
they've  as  much  sense  as  I  have;  but  it's  not  becoming 
in  the  youngest  member  of  a  great  big  family  to  say  so ! 
The  Lord  seemed  to  think  that  you  needed  somebody  to 
take  care  of  you !  " 

"  It's  not  because  Marie  hasn't  any  sense,  Green- 
woods, that  she's  no  orphan,  but  because  her  folks  are 
healthy!" 

Harriet  had  "  folks  "  of  her  own. 

"Who  keeps  'em  healthy,  Harriet?  And  how  come 
God  to  put  Marie  in  a  big,  healthy  family  instead  of  an 
orphan  asylum?  " 

A  crushed  silence  followed.  The  conversation  had 
been  hard  on  both  of  the  crest-fallen  twain,  but  Harriet, 
having  a  buoyant  disposition,  soon  recovered. 

"  I've  got  more  sense  than  Marie,  anyhow,"  she 
boasted.  "  I  have  a  mamma  and  grandpa  and  a  few 
aunts,  but  my  papa's  quit.  I  haven't  a  whole  drove, 
like  Marie !  " 

This  was  too  much  for  Marie,  who  started  in  tears 
for  the  house.  The  Greenwoods,  regretting  her  brutal 
frankness,  ran  after  her.  "  Come  on  back,  Marie,  and 
we  won't  say  another  word  about  it.  Of  course  you 
have  a  lot  of  kin,  but  it  might  be  worse.  There  are  not 
many  girls  like  me !  " 

"  I'm  so  ashamed,  though.  I  can't  help  but  think 
how  I  look  at  weddings  and  funerals  and  family  din- 
ners,— marching  in,  the  youngest  of  all  that  bunch, 
holding  mamma  by  the  hand!  Just  think  how  people 
must  talk, — especially  with  you  here,  no  bigger  than  I, 
and  without  a  relative  in  the  world !  " 

"  I've  known  worse,   though.      I  knew   a   girl   once 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  173 

what  had  thirteen  brothers  and  sisters!  And  another 
with  a  mamma  and  a  stepmamma,  and  a  papa  and,  a 
steppapa!  Now  how'd  you  like  that?  Besides,  it's 
convenient  having  your  folks  around  handy.  Being 
an  orphan  is  a  responsibility." 

"  That's  so.  And  I  have  as  much  sense  as  Harriet, 
haven't  I?  " 

"  Yes,  you  have.  So  come  on  back,  and  I'll  tell  you 
a  story." 

They  returned;  but  Marie,  feeling  called  upon  to 
proclaim  her  mental  fitness,  the  story  was  delayed. 
"  She  says  I've  as  much  sense  as  you,  Harriet 
Wingo!" 

"  You,— with  all  that  kin?  " 

"  One  strong,  healthy  mamma  makes  up  for  a  lot," 
explained  The  Greenwoods  sententiously.  "  But  you're 
both  bright  girls,  so  what's  the  use  in  fussing?  " 

Harriet  was  not  placated.  "  You  talk  one  way  one 
time,  and  another,  another,  Greenwoods  Forest!  Now 
I  won't  stand  it.  If  you  have  more  sense  than  I  be- 
cause you  haven't  any  kin,  you've  got  to  own  up  that 
I  have  more  sense  than  Marie  when  I  have  the  fewer. 
Will  you  do  it?" 

"  No,"  replied  the  Greenwoods  firmly,  and  Harriet 
marched  for  the  gate. 

The  Greenwoods  followed. 

"  You  see,  Harriet,"  she  explained,  "  Marie  has  more 
kin  than  you,  but  they  are  nervous,  every  one,  and  she 
may  need  'em  yet.  It  will  hurt  her  feelings,  though,  to 
tell  her  so.  Her  mamma  is  old  and  the  nervousest  of 
all.  She  may  die  any  time,  but  yours  is  good  and 
strong,  and  will  last  till  you  are  grown  and  over.  Of 


174  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

course  you  won't  need  any  one  else  while  you  have  her. 
See?  " 

"  You  talk  like  my  mamma  was  a  horse,  Green- 
woods ! " 

"  I  didn't  mean  no  slander  to  her,  Harriet.  I  like 
your  mamma, — Better  even  than  Miss  Ardelia.  I'm 
on  her  side!  Say,  wouldn't  it  be  fun  if  her  and  Dr. 
Kingston  would  marry  each  other?  You  and  me  could 
live  in  the  same  house,  and  Marie  could  visit  us." 

"  How  perfectly  grand !  " 

"  Let's  talk  it  over  with  Marie,  then." 

This  brought  peace ;  but  while  the  three  were  arrang- 
ing an  amicable  settlement  of  the  Doctor's  future,  a 
servant  was  seen  approaching  from  the  "  lab." 

"  I  bet  he  wants  me !  "  Once  more  The  Greenwoods 
was  at  war  with  life.  "  And  I  haven't  done  a  thing !  " 

The  servant  gave  the  summons  and  withdrew. 

"  I  knew  it!     What  you  been  telling  now,  Marie?  " 

"  On  my  honor,  Woody,  not  a  thing.  It  looks  like 
I'm  blamed  for  everything  that  happens !  " 

"  It's  that  chicken !  "  volunteered  Harriet,  "  Mamma 
said  she  would  tell  him  about  it,  and  I  bet  she  did." 

"  It  wasn't  my  fault  about  that  chicken.  Did  I  pro- 
pose the  funeral  ?  " 

"  If  you'd  let  us  bury  Belinda,  we'd  never  thought 
of  the  chicken,"  reminded  Marie ;  "  so  it  is  your  fault. 
Besides,  me  and  Harriet  have  been  punished,  and  now 
you  can  take  yours.  Reckon  brother  Rob  will 
whip— 

"  No,  he  won't !  "  sharply.  "  He's  a  gentleman,  if  he 
is  my  guardian.  They  are  raising  enough  sand  about 
that  chicken  for  us  to  have  buried  it  alive!  I'm  sorry 
I  ever  heard  tell  of  it !  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  175 

Grumbling,  she  approached  the  "  lab."  JVayville 
was  the  meanest  place  for  scoldings  she  had  ever  lived 
in;  the  Kingstons,  the  hardest  set  to  please  she  had 
ever  known,  and  grown  folks  in  general,  unmitigated 
nuisances.  Reluctantly  knocking  on  the  door,  she 
wished  herself  in  Heaven. 

"  Come  in,"  called  Robert,  in  mild  sarcasm,  "  I'm 
glad  you  didn't  rush  yourself  to  death." 

In  his  voice  was  an  undercurrent  of  good  humor,  but 
because  of  the  chicken  she  failed  to  note  it.  He  was 
thinking  not  of  the  chicken  but  of  Miss  Faunce,  from 
whom  he  had  not  heard  in  weeks, — except  through 
Woody. 

"  You  haven't  been  to  see  me  in  a  long  time,"  he  be- 
gan hospitably. 

"  Wasn't  it  day  before  yesterday  morning  you 
locked  me  in  the  closet  and  kep'  me  there  thirty-seven 
hours  and  a  half,  just  for  washing  out  a  few  clothes 
when  you  was  a-waiting  for  me, — and  Belinda  without 
a  clean  dress  to  her  name?  " 

"  I  meant  social  visits,  my  dear.  Suppose  we  let 
bygones  be  bygones." 

"  Goodness  knows,  I'm  willing !  But  if  that  old 
chicken's  not  a  bygone,  what  is  ?  It's  been  dead  and  eat 
up  a  week !  What  are  you  a- fussing  about  it  now  for  ? 
Just  because  you  are  grown,  I  s'pose.  Grown  folks 
are  born  fussing,  and  just  can't  help  theirselves!  " 

"  What  on  earth  do  you  mean  ?  "  he  asked  in  amaze- 
ment. 

"  Nothing !  I  just  buried  it  to  please  the  others. 
We  never  hurt  the  chicken.  Mrs.  Wingo  makes  me 
tired !  If  I'd  a-known  she  was  so  everlastingly  par- 
ticular I'd  never  arranged  for  you  to  marry  her ! " 


176  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

His  face  was  the  picture  of  dismay. 

"  Greenwoods, " 

"  Why,  she's  as  old-maidish  as  Miss  Ardelia  Wile !  " 

"  I  sent  for  you,  Woody," — he  spoke  with  dignity, — 
"  to  give  you  a  letter." 

"  Then  why  was  you  a-fussing  about  that  chicken?  " 

"  I  haven't  mentioned  the  chicken !  " 

"  The  measly  thing  was  dead !  What  harm  was 
there  in  burying  it?  Didn't  we  wash  the  dirt  off  and 
put  it  back?  Mrs.  Wingo  ate  it  for  her  dinner,  and 
said  it  tasted  good.  I  didn't  steal  the  chicken !  " 

"  Neither  did  I." 

"Who  was  accusing  you  of  it,  Dr.  Kingston?" 

"  Who  was  accusing  you  of  it,  Greenwoods?  " 

"  Everybody !     Even  France " 

"  Oh !  "  At  last  he  was  rewarded,  "  What  did  she 
say  about  it  ?  " 

Miss  Faunce's  long  silence  had  got  on  his  nerves. 
He  feared  she  was  ill,  or 

"  What  has  everybody  said  ?  What  have  you  been 
saying?  A-fussing  till  you  are  black  in  the  face — And 
over  nothing !  " 

He  looked  at  the  child  in  despair.  He  had  not  in- 
tended to  scold  her,  but  there  seemed  nothing  else  to 
do.  He  sighed  and  began :  "  But  I  was  shocked  and 
grieved,  Greenwoods,  when  I  heard  of  your  conduct. 
The  idea  of  burying  your  hostess's  dinner!  You  in- 
fringed on  the  sacred 

A  bored  look  came  over  her  face. 

"  Did  you  mention  a  letter,  Dr.  Kingston  ?  " 

"  We  are  discussing  the  chicken,  miss.    Do  you " 

"Who  is  it  from?" 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  177 

"  Will  you  promise  never  again," — he  temptingly 
held  out  the  letter. 

She  eagerly  seized  it. 

"  Granny !  yes !     Why,  it's  from  Francie !  " 

He  contrived  to  look  surprised. 

"  Really  ?     Read  it  and  tell  me  the  news." 

Woody  had  recently  grown  uncommunicative  about 
Miss  Faunce,  so  to  hear  of  her  now,  Robert  was  forced 
to  ask.  And  he  wanted  to  hear.  Why  had  Miss  Faunce 
stopped  writing  to  him?  Of  course  The  Greenwoods 
was  unable  to  inform  him,  but  she  might  throw  some 
light  on  the  subject.  Had  Miss  Faunce  been  offended 
by  some  mixed-up  information  the  child  had  given,  had 
he  displeased  her  in  some  way,  or  had  she, — with  her 
usual  fickleness, — grown  tired?  Was  there  another 
man?  Robert  felt  that  he  could  right  the  trouble  if 
he  only  knew  what  it  was ;  and  he  had  been  vainly  try- 
ing to  think  of  a  pretext  for  visiting  the  family  foe. 

The  Greenwoods'  spirits  drooped  as  she  read  the  let- 
ter, and  his  fears  increased.  As  each  page  was  solemnly 
perused, — then  turned,  with  a  sigh, — his  diagnosis  of 
the  case  grew  more  alarming,  his  own  outlook  on  life 
more  gloomy.  At  last  The  Greenwoods  finished  the 
letter,  slowly  folded  it  up;  and,  with  a  shake  of 
her  head,  replaced  it  in  the  envelope. 

"  I  am  worried  about  France,"  she  said. 

She  had  touched  the  keynote  of  her  own  disgruntled 
state.  Frances'  letters  were  depressing.  Woody 
feared  that  she  would  never  again  see  the  France  she 
had  loved. 

"What  is  wrong?"  Robert's  voice  was  full  of  anx- 
iety. 

"  Looks  like  she  gets  worser  and  worser  all  the  time." 


178  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I  hope  she  isn't  ill." 

"  Wors'n  that !     She  could  get  over  being  ill." 

"  Is  she  engaged?  "  A  man  can  be  honorable  with- 
out being  infallible. 

"  Oh,  I  wouldn't  mind  a  little  thing  like  that ;  she  can 
get  over  being  engaged,  too !  " 

All  hope  seemed  lost. 

"  She  must  be  married  then." 

"  The  man's  not  living  she  would  marry.  I've  heard 
her  say  so." 

"  Then  what  is  the  matter?  " 

"  She's  getting  old." 

"  Is  that  all  ?  "     He  was  almost  angry  in  his  relief. 

"  All?  It's  a-ruining  her !  She  used  to  be  the  nicest 
girl  I  knew, — merry  and  lively,  and  full  of  fun  and  un- 
derstanding. Nothing  on  earth  could  shock  her !  But 
now  she's  getting  growner  and  growner  all  the  time." 

"  You  don't  seem  fond  of  your  elders,  dear." 

"  They're  just  not  any  fun,  Dr.  Kingston.  It's  all 
right  for  some  kids  to  get  grown, — for  they're  no  fun 
anyhow, — but  there's  enough  of  that  kind  already, 
without  Francie.  She  had  some  sense — once." 

"  Some  people  like  them  grown  though." 

"  Then  I  wish  to  gracious  she  would  write  to  them 
instead  of  me!  Preaching  from  one  end  of  her  letters 
to  the  other !  Old  goody-goody !  " 

"  Preaching !  "  So  that  was  it.  Even  in  her  anger 
at  him, — over  some  nonsense  Woody  had  written,  prob- 
ably about  Mrs.  Wingo  or  Miss  Wile, — SHE  was  help- 
ing him  keep  order.  How  gracious  and  how  sweet ! 

"  Yes,  preaching !  Not  another  word  does  she  ever 
write,  'cept  a  lot  of  foolishness  about  respecting  your 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  179 

elders,  and  being  a  credit  to  people,  and  mind  your 
spelling.  She  even  said  for  me  to  obey  my  guardian !  " 

"  Yes  ?  "  The  world  swam  before  him  in  a  haze  of 
bliss. 

"  To  think  of  her  a-writing  me  such  stuff !  She  even 
said  you  was  a  good  man !  " 

He  gasped,  but  more  was  coming.  For  here  was  the 
secret  of  Woody's  bitterness  toward  adults ;  of  her  dia- 
tribes against  the  race.  France  was  grown  up  and  sid- 
ing with  the  guardian !  That  there  might  be  another 
reason  for  this  than  maturity  The  Greenwoods  did  not 
suspect.  She  only  knew  that  her  chum, — with  whom 
she  might  have  had  tiffs  in  private,  but  who  had  upheld 
her  in  public  against  friends,  foes,  teachers,  guardians 
and  the  world, — was  changing  to  a  monitor. 

"  Of  course,  if  she  liked  you,  Dr.  Kingston,  it  would 
be  different."  The  laughter  died  from  the  lover's  face. 
"  But  when  she  hates  you  like  poison,  it's  nothing  but 
grown  folks'  twaddle." 

Robert  looked  pensive.  It  seemed  foolish  to  attach 
any  importance  to  the  Greenwoods'  remarks,  but 
"  children  and  fools  tell  the  truth,"  and  the  fact  re- 
mained that  Frances  had  not  written.  There  must  be 
reason  for  her  silence. 

"  You  say  she  hates  me?  " 

Like  eavesdroppers,  those  who  pump  children  seldom 
hear  good  of  themselves. 

"  I — er — reckon  so.  She  said  she  did.  And  she 
called  you  a  dangerous  animal, — or  a  brute,  whichever 
it  is  folks  call  those  they  hate." 

As  Dr.  Kingston  remained  gloomily  silent,  The 
Greenwoods  felt  bound  to  talk.  "  Besides,  she  wrote  me 
to  stop  informing  her  of  your  numerous  love  affairs. 


180  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

She  isn't  interested,  and  you  may  marry  Miss  Wile  or 
Mrs.  Wingo, — either  or  both, — for  all  she  cares.  A 
man  flirt  is  beneath  her  contempt !  " 

The  lover's  world  grew  brighter.  Again  he  began 
hunting  for  an  excuse  for  visiting  Miss  Faunce  and  set- 
ting her  right  about  his  rumored  love  affairs ;  The 
Greenwoods,  however,  depressed  by  the  surrounding 
gloom,  burst  into  tears.  She  had  evidently  hurt  the 
doctor's  feelings. 

"  She  hasn't  seen  you  in  a  long  time  though,  Dr. 
Kingston;  so  maybe  she's  got  over  it." 

"  My  dear  child,  what  are  you  crying  about?  " 

"  I — I — don't  know,  sir.     I'll  write  and  ask  her." 

"  Ask  her  what  ?  " — in  astonishment. 

"  If — she's — got  over  hating  you." 

He  smothered  a  groan,  but  in  spite  of  The  Green- 
woods, Frances  was  not  lost  yet. 

"  Don't  be  silly,  Woody.  Of  course  Miss  Faunce 
doesn't  care  to  hear  your  exaggerated  accounts  of  my 
attentions  to  Miss  Wile  or  Mrs.  Wingo.  You  must  stop 
believing  and  repeating  everything  you  hear.  No  won- 
der she  scolded  you  for  retailing  the  servants'  gossip. 
Now  listen  attentively :  Leave  me  and  my  affairs  alone ! 
Do  you  understand?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  don't  repeat  this  conversation  to  anyone ;  not 
even  to  her.  You  must  stop  being  such  a  chatterbox." 

"  Y-yes,  sir." 

"  And  don't  say,  sir,  say  *  Dr.  Kingston.'  And  stop 
crying,  dear.  And — go  !  " 

The  Greenwoods  strolled  back  to  The  Four  Oaks 
wiping  the  tears  from  her  eyes. 

"  I  don't  see  why  he  cared  about  France,"  she  pon- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  181 

dered  in  perplexity,  "  You'd  think  he  was  in  love,  if  it 
wasn't  impossible, — with  his  family  hating  her  so. 
These  Kingstons  are  just  too  sensitive  for  me.  A  girl 
can't  move  without  hurting  their  pesky  feelings !  Feel- 
ings make  me  tired.  I'm  glad  I  haven't  any.  I  do  talk 
too  much,  though,  and  that's  what  happened  then.  It 
will  get  you  into  trouble — every  time." 

Harriet  had  gone,  but  Marie  was  waiting  to  find  out 
the  method  of  justice  dispensed.  Seeing  tears  in  The 
Greenwoods  eyes,  she  concluded  that  the  chicken  had 
been  amply  avenged:  "  Did  it  hurt?  "  she  asked. 

"  No  it  didn't.     I  never  got  one." 

"  You  are  crying,  though.  Brother  Rob  always  did 
believe  in  'em.  Say,  what  did  he  use  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  you  hateful  girl !  " 

"  Gee,  it  must  have  hurt !  You  are  still  mad.  Was 
it  a  switch  or  a  strap?  " 

"  Don't  you  believe  your  own  brother  has  any  man- 
ners, Marie  ?  " 

"  They  don't  call  it  *  bad  manners,'  but  *  a  painful 
duty.'  Papa  nearly  gave  me  one  once, — about  those 
trees,  you  know,  but," — Marie  spoke  regretfully, — 
"  Mamma  stopped  him." 

"  That's  different.    You  and  him  are  kin." 

"  So,"  disregardingly,  "  I  shall  never  have  another 
chance  to  find  out  how  it  feels,  unless  you  tell  me. 
You're  as  close-mouthed  and  sensitive  as  Walter.  What 
did  he  use,  Woody  ?  " 

The  accusation  of  sensitiveness,  which  she  had  just 
been  deploring  in  others,  appealed  to  The  Greenwoods' 
sense  of  humor.  From  the  depths  of  gloom  her  spirit 
bounded  to  the  heights  of  levity, — so  quickly  that  Marie 
obtained  no  hint  of  the  transit.  So,  when  The  Green- 


182  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

woods  covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  her  tormentor 
thought  she  was  crying. 

"  Will  you  promise  never  to  tell,  Marie?  " 

"  I  cross  my  heart."  Marie  quivered  with  morbid  in- 
terest. 

"  Do  you  remember  that  snake  skin  he  has, — what 
swallows  cows  ?  "  asked  The  Greenwoods. 

Marie's  eyes  grew  round  with  horror,  and  she  gave  a 
suppressed  shriek. 

"  That  was  it !  "  said  The  Greenwoods. 

A  dead  silence  followed  this  staggering  revelation; 
The  Greenwoods  being  engaged  in  a  struggle  with  her 
mirth,  and  Marie's  imagination  being  overwhelmed  by 
the  awfulness  of  the  chastisement. 

"  Didn't  it  hurt  just  dreadful,  Woody?  " 

"  Marie,"  came  the  penetrating  whisper,  "  it  was 
worse  than  a  bath !  " 

As  the  mendacious  one  sped  lightly  away  her  cach- 
innations  drifted  back  to  the  tree  against  which  leaned 
Marie, — a  pitiful  little  figure  of  desolation.  Would 
they  never  forget  about  that  bath? 


CHAPTER  XXII 

"  You  seem  to  be  troubled  about  something,  Robert," 
remarked  Mrs.  Kingston,  in  happy  ignorance  of  the 
danger  his  absent  thoughts  portended.  "  What  weighty 
matter  have  you  on  the  brain?  " 

"  Only  a  little  business,"  he  replied,  with  a  nonchal- 
ance that  belied  the  panic  within.  He  was  mustering 
courage  to  precipitate  a  bomb  into  the  quiet  circle, — a 
bomb  that  might  disagreeably  affect  the  peace  and  ap- 
petite of  the  breakfasters.  "  But  I  fear  I  shall  be 
forced  to  go  to  Chicago  for  a  couple  of  weeks." 

"Oh,  goody!"  By  this  untimely  outburst  of  joy, 
The  Greenwoods  excited  the  curiosity,  of  the  beholders. 
Even  though  she  were  glad  to  get  rid  of  Bob,  why 
should  she  be  so  outspoken  about  it? 

"  Why  are  you  so  glad  to  get  rid  of  me  ?  "  he  asked, 
deciding  to  let  her  break  the  blow.  The  more  manly 
course  would  have  been  for  him  to  explain  that  he  was 
going  a-wooing,  but,  being  in  doubt  as  to  his  success, 
he  spared  his  dignity. 

"  Because  if  you  leave  home  I  shall  get  to  stay  with 
Francie." 

As  usual,  she  had  produced  a  sensation.  Not  that 
anyone  thought  she  would  be  permitted  to  go,  but  her 
hardihood  in  making  the  suggestion  was  incredible. 
They  waited  for  the  heir  of  the  wronged  Mark  Per- 
kins to  reprove  her. 

"  Can  you  get  ready  by  to-morrow?  "  he  asked  in 
lamblike  tones. 

183 


184  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I'll  pack  this  minute !  "  she  shrieked,  and  flew  head- 
long from  the  room. 

"  No  you  won't ! "  shouted  Marie,  following  her 
promptly. 

These  unceremonious  exits  gave  Mrs.  Kingston  her 
opportunity.  Before  remonstrating  with  Robert  she 
would  let  him  know  her  opinion  of  Miss  Faunce  (of 
which  she  feared, — unnecessarily, — that  he  might  be  in 
doubt),  and,  by  appealing  to  his  good  sense,  give  him  a 
chance  to  recede  from  the  position  he  had  taken. 

"  Robert,"  she  inquired,  "  have  you  ever  informed 
your  ward  that  it  is  the  custom,  among  genteel  people, 
to  ask  to  be  excused  before  leaving  the  table  in  the  midst 
of  a  meal?  " 

"  Marie's  gone  too !  "  exclaimed  Walter. 

"  That  is  exactly  why  I  must  beg  of  you,  Robert,  to 
give  the  child  a  few  hints  on  etiquette.  Marie  copies 
her  every  act, — her  every  error ;  so " 

"  Then  she'd  better  give  it  up,"  scowled  The  Green- 
woods' sturdy  champion,  "  for  she's  not  in  The  Green- 
woods' class !  " 

At  this  point  Walter  was  sent  from  the  table,  and 
Mrs.  Kingston  resumed: 

"  I  am  not  criticizing  Sylvia,  Robert,  though  Wal- 
ter seemed  to  think  so.  She  is  naturally  a  sweet,  gra- 
cious child;  bnt  manners  don't  come  from  instinct  but 
from  training.  Hers  have  been  sadly  neglected.  It  is 
time  for  the  Faunce  influence  to  be  eradicated.  The 
child  should  never  have  been  left  under  the  care  of  a 
woman  who  is  so  ignorant  of  the  usages  of  polite  so- 
ciety." 

At  last  Mark  Perkins'  heir  arose  to  his  defense. 

"  I  am  afraid,  Mother,  that  dear  Uncle  Mark  would 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  185 

be  very  much  pained  to  hear  his  favorite  sister  say 
so." 

Exalting  Mark  Perkins  was  with  Mrs.  Kingston  a 
passion;  not  because  he  had  been  successful  but  be- 
cause he  was  her  brother  and  had  been  reviled  by  an 
envious  world.  Wondering  how  her  words  could  have 
reflected  upon  the  one  whom  she  most  loved  to  honor, 
she  was  stricken  into  silence.  Her  husband  came  to  her 
rescue. 

"  Your  mother  was  not  criticising  Mark, — she  was 
alluding  to  that  Miss  Faunce." 

"  If,  as  my  mother  affirms,  Miss  Faunce  is  ignorant 
of  the  usages  of  polite  society,  my  uncle  should  cer- 
tainly not  have  placed  his  preserver's  daughter  in  her 
care.  I  refuse  to  believe  that  dear  Uncle  Mark  was 
guilty  of  such  base  ingratitude !  "  The  glow  of  right- 
eous indignation  flushed  Robert's  brow. 

"  In  this  case  Mark  was  not  accountable.  He  was 
in  love  with  the  woman,  and  *  there  is  no  fool  like  an 
old  fool.'  " 

Robert  was  shocked. 

"  Oh,  Father !    Uncle  Mark  a  fool !  " 

"  Of  course  he  was  not !  "  Colonel  Kingston's  face 
grew  red.  In  his  defense  of  his  uncle  Robert  was  making 
every  one  else  uncomfortable. 

"  I  am  so  glad  you  didn't  mean  it,  Father.  My  poor 
uncle  has  been  so  vilified  that  we,  his  nearest  of  kin, 
should  be  circumspect  in  our  references  to  him." 

"  Look  here,  young  man,  instead  of  accusing  me  of 
speaking  disrespectfully  of  the  dead,  you  had  better 
look  to  your  own  conduct ! "  The  Colonel  was  indig- 
nant. "  Do  you  intend  to  let  the  child  visit  that 
woman?  " 


186  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Why,  yes.    What  objection  can  there  be?  " 

"  It  is  an  insult  to  Mark's  memory,  sir ! " 

"  Why,  Father !    How  can  it  be  so  regarded  ?  " 

"  You  know  how  that  wretch  treated  him,  Robert," 
said  Mrs.  Kingston ;  "  throwing  him  over  for  a  mere 
boy  whom  she  didn't  even  love !  " 

"I  know  that  the  yellow  journals  said  something  of 
the  kind,  but  I  never  accepted  any  of  their  reports 
concerning  my  uncle.  Did  he  tell  you  that  Miss 
Faunce  had  mistreated  him?  " 

"  A  gentleman  never  goes  into  details  about  his  love 
affairs,  Robert ;  but  if  she  did  not,  why  did  he  give  the 
child  to  you?  " 

"  Do  you  think  he  did  it  from  petty  spite,  Mother  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not !  Dear  Mark  never  did  anything 
petty  in  his  life!  But, — if  he  esteemed  Miss  Faunce, 
— why  did  he  remove  the  child  from  her  care?  " 

As  has  been  said  before,  Robert  thought  he  knew,  but 
the  time  was  not  yet  ripe  for  making  public  what  he 
conceived  to  have  been  his  uncle's  design,  so  he  merely 
said :  "  He  may  have  thought  Miss  Faunce  too  young. 
But  since  he  left  The  Greenwoods  with  her  after  the 
engagement  was  broken,  and  since,  had  he  not  died,  she 
would  doubtless  be  there  yet,  I  see  no  reason  for  ob- 
jecting to  this  visit." 

Mrs.  Kingston  looked  at  him  suspiciously. 

"  How  will  Sylvia  get  there?  " 

«  I  shall  take  her." 

"  I  thought  as  much." 

"  Naturally.  Sylvia  could  hardly  go  alone.  And 
now  I  have  some  business  to  attend  to,  so  must  beg  to 
be  excused." 

When  Colonel  Kingston  and  his  wife  left  the  room 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  187 

they  looked  helpless  and  subdued.  She  was  the  first  to 
speak. 

"  He  is  in  love  with  her  himself !  Oh,  Colonel,  to 
think  of  him  speaking  in  that  way  to  us !  And  to  have 
fallen  in  love  with  such  a  creature !  What  shall  we  do  ? 
LWe  can't  permit  him  to  marry  her." 

"  We  can't  prevent  it.  He  is  of  age,  and  has  more 
money  than  we  have. 

"  I  will  never  recognize  her." 

"  Then  we  shall  lose  Bob.  But  perhaps  the  girl  will 
jilt  him.  She  seems  to  have  formed  the  habit;  and  if 
she  will  only  teach  that  conceited  young  puppy  a  les- 
son, I  will  forgive  her !  " 

"  But  that  mercenary  wretch  will  marry  him,  Col- 
onel, and  expect  me  to  get  her  into  good  society.  But 
I  will  never  do  it.  If  Robert  marries  that  graceless 
flirt  I  will  never  speak  to  him  again !  " 

Dissension  was  in  the  air;  and  as  Robert  opened  the 
door  of  his  laboratory,  he  heard  voices  in  dispute. 

"  She's  not  vulgar ! "  shrieked  the  Greenwoods, 
"  She  is  a  nicer  lady  than  your  own  mamma.  And  if 
you  don't  take  it  back  I'll  slap  you !  " 

"  She's  common  as  pig  tracks !  "  exclaimed  Marie. 
And  don't  you  dare  touch  me !  " 

Robert  entered  the  room  and  regarded  the  dispu- 
tants,— who  had  taken  possession, — with  displeasure. 
"  What  does  this  mean,  children?  "  he  asked  in  chilling 
tones,  which,  however,  failed  to  awe  them.  They  were 
as  hard  a  couple  to  awe  as  he  had  ever  known. 

"  Marie  has  locked  my  door  and  has  the  key,  and  she 
won't  let  me  pack !  " 

M  You  sha'n't  go  to  that  woman's  house,"  declared 


188  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

Marie,  **  You  must  stay  here  and  play  with  me !  She's 
no  lady,  and  you  shouldn't  associate  with  her !  " 

"  Hush,  Marie !  "  commanded  Robert.  "  Give  me 
that  key !" 

He  held  out  his  hand,  but  Marie  promptly  put  both 
of  hers  behind  her  and  looking  up  in  cool  defiance,  re- 
plied, "  I  won't." 

The  Greenwoods  thrilled  with  admiration  of  Marie's 
pluck,  but  Robert  calmly  reached  over  and  took  the 
key.  The  little  princess, — whose  will  had  never  before 
been  violated, — gave  a  gulp  of  surprise  as  she  looked  at 
her  empty  hand.  Then,  realizing  the  indignity  to  which 
she  had  been  sub j  ected,  she  shrieked  with  rage.  Though 
powerless  herself,  she  had  resources  at  her  call. 

"  I'll  tell  Mamma,  if  you  don't  give  it  back !  " 

«  Marie " 

"  I  want  that  key,  brother  Robert,  and  you  give  it 
to  me ! ' 

"  Marie,  I  want  you  to  apologize  to  Sylvia  for  the 
remarks  you  have  just  made  about  her  friend." 

"  I  won't  do  it.  I  meant  every  word.  She  is  a  dis- 
reputable creature,  and  she  flirted  with  my  Uncle 
Mark!" 

Here  The  Greenwoods  tried  to  pour  oil  upon  the 
troubled  waters.  "  But  your  Uncle  Mark  liked  it, 
Marie;  and  was  sorry  when  she  stopped.  So  what  are 
you  cutting  up  about?  " 

"  Be  quiet,  Greenwoods,"  said  Robert  ungratefully. 
"  Marie,  are  you  sorry  ?  " 

"  No !     She's  a  mercenary  coquette !  " 

Whereupon  Robert,  who  was  now  defending  his  ward, 
— and  doing  so  as  thoroughly  as  he  had  championed  his 
dead  uncle, — popped  Marie  into  the  closet,  while  The 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  189 

Greenwoods,  with  wide  eyes,  watched  his  high-handed 
proceeding. 

"  I  wouldn't  lock  Marie  up  if  I  were  you,"  she  pro- 
tested, "  Your  mamma  won't  like  it ;  and,  anyhow,  that 
closet  needs  airing." 

"  Greenwoods " 

"  If  you  are  a-putting  her  there  on  my  account,  you 
can  turn  her  loose.  I  can  tend  to  my  fussing  myself, 
—if  you'll  let  me." 

"  Greenwoods," — he  spoke  in  stentorian  tones,  for 
Marie  was  not  taking  her  incarceration  quietly, — "  why 
did  you  leave  the  breakfast  table  without  asking  to  be 
excused?  " 

"  Did  I  do  a  thing  like  that  ?  I  blush  to  hear  it.  I 
must  have  forgot  to  ask." 

"  Then  make  your  apologies  to  my  mother  at  once !  " 

"  I'll  go  this  instant.     I  apologize  just  beautiful." 

"  And  in  the  future,  please  remember  that  Miss 
Faunce  is  judged  according  to  your  behavior." 

"  Poor  Francie !  Don't  the  geese  know  that  she  is 
her  and  I  am  me?  " 

"  And — you  are  to  say  nothing  as  to  Marie's  where- 
abouts." 

A  roguish  smile  dimpled  Woody's  face. 

"  Oh,  I'm  no  tattle-tale !  But,  say, — hadn't  you  and 
me  better  start  right  now?  " 

"  Don't  be  impertinent,  Sylvia.  And,  if  anyone  finds 
out  where  she  is,  you  take  her  place  in  the  closet ! " 

Giggling  at  the  "  usurper's "  predicament,  The 
Greenwoods  took  her  key  and  ran. 

Robert  now  dropped  the  austere  mien  he  had  suc- 
cessfully maintained  before  her  and  stared  helplessly 
at  the  closet  door,  which  was  being  rattled  and  kicked 


190  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

with  vehemence.  He  was  thinking  of  his  mother.  She 
could  "  give  the  bastinado  with  her  tongue,"  and  what 
would  she  say  when  she  learned  that  he  had  locked  up 
her  child?  It  being  a  simpler  matter  to  lock  Marie  up 
than  to  let  her  out  again,  he  resolved  to  temporize. 

"  Will  you  be  good,  Marie?  " 

"No,  I  won't!     I'm  going  to  tell." 

"  That's  just  what  she'll  do  too,"  thought  the  big 
brother  in  consternation ;  "  and  then  I  shall  catch  it." 

"  If  you'll  promise  to  be  good,  I  will  let  you  out  and 
give  you  a  box  of  candy." 

"  I  don't  want  your  old  candy.  And  you've  got  to 
let  me  out  anyway.  I'm  not  your  ward,  Robert  King- 
ston. And  you  know  what  Mamma  will  do !  " 

He  had  a  vague  idea,  at  any  rate.  To  turn  Marie 
loose  in  her  present  frame  of  mind  was  hazardous,  while 
to  keep  her  till  her  humor  changed  might  cause  a  search, 
— when  he  would  be  found  with  the  goods  upon  him. 
Well,  since  he  was  in  for  it  anyway,  why  not  go  the 
limit?  For  years  he  had  been  wanting  to  teach  Marie 
a  lesson. 

"  Marie,  are  you  sorry  you  spoke  so  rudely  of 
Woody's  friend?" 

"  No ;  she's  a  common  old  flirt  that  can't  keep  a 
promise,"  said  Marie;  and  thereby  sealed  her  doom. 

Later  she  carried  The  Greenwoods  an  apology,  which 
had  been  written  at  Robert's  dictation.  Marie's  eyes 
were  red  with  weeping,  but  she  wore  a  superior  air. 

"  Don't  rely  too  much  on  him  being  a  gentleman, 
Greenwoods,"  she  said,  "  for  I  know  better !  " 

"  And  have  you  found  out  how  it  feels  ?  "  asked 
Woody. 

"  Yes,  it  hurts.    In  fact  it  is  surprisingly  painful." 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  191 

"  Are  you  a-going  to  tell  your  mamma  on  him, 
Marie?" 

"  No,"  replied  Marie  firmly,  "  he  said  if  I  did  he 
would  give  me  another,  and  he  meant  it.  My  brother 
Rob  is  a  different  kind  of  man  from  Mamma.  Besides, 
I  think  every  little  girl  ought  to  get  one,  Greenwoods, 
just  to  see  for  herself  how  it  feels.  But  take  my  word 
for  it, — one  is  plenty !  " 


THERE  were  two  trunks,  and  The  Greenwoods  began 
with  that  one  in  which  her  winter  clothing  had  been 
so  carefully  stored  away.  Taking  each  garment  out, 
she  unfolded  and  shook  it  vigorously  and  hung  it  in  the 
window  to  air.  A  few  fell  out,  but  as  air  was  plentiful 
outside  they  did  just  as  well;  besides,  she  needed  the 
space. 

The  pile  in  the  window  soon  grew  top-heavy,  so  she 
filled  up  the  chairs,  and  when  the  chairs  gave  out  she 
heaped  things  on  the  bed.  The  trays  of  the  trunk  had 
been  on  the  bed,  but  she  propped  them  against  the  door. 

After  doing  that,  she  took  her  pictures  from  the 
wall,  wiped  them,  and  placed  them  on  the  floor,  adjoin- 
ing the  trays,  and  next  to  the  pictures  she  put  her 
toys.  By  this  time  the  floor  was  nearly  covered. 

The  room  was  small  for  packing, — the  trunks  taking 
up  the  central  portion,  the  winter  clothing  occupying 
one  side,  while  pictures  and  toys  filled  up  another, — 
but  there  were  still  two  sides  left  for  operating.  Un- 
fortunately, The  Greenwoods  had  just  begun.  In  less 
time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it,  both  vacant  sides  were 
covered  with  the  ornaments  from  her  dressing-table, 
school-books,  and  knick-knacks  in  general. 

Emptying  her  dresser  drawers,  she  carefully  unfolded 
all  her  laundered  underwear  and  spread  out  each  piece 
carefully,  adding  another  story  to  the  structure  on 
the  bed.  As  this  in  time  grew  wobbly,  she  put  the  rest 

192 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  193 

under  the  bed.    The  room  was  really  becoming  crowded. 

Taking  down  her  laundry-bag,  she  tumbled  her  soiled 
clothing  upon  the  one  free  spot  remaining,  and  pains- 
takingly folding  up  the  bag,  she  dropped  it  into  her 
trunk.  Then  she  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief  (for  packing 
is  hard  work),  but  the  end  was  in  sight.  Her  hats, 
parasols,  and  summer  frocks  she  hung  upon  the  trunks. 

Now  she  was  ready  to  begin  in  earnest.  In  the  char- 
acter of  Mrs.  Jonesville,  s"he  recounted  to  a  sympa- 
thetic audience  the  trials  of  traveling  alone,  with  seven 
small  children,  all  afflicted  with  the  mumps.  Thus  re- 
minded that  the  faces  of  her  suffering  offspring  had 
not  yet  been  tied  up,  the  devoted  mother  forgot  her 
weariness  and  ransacked  the  chairs,  the  window,  and 
the  bed  for  handkerchiefs, — finding  them  at  last  under 
the  bed. 

Upon  this  scene  of  confusion  the  housekeeper  stared 
in  bewilderment, — after  she  had  knocked  over  the  trays 
and  with  much  exertion  succeeded  in  opening  the  door. 
As  there  was  no  spot  in  the  room  on  which  to  stand, 
she  wisely  remained  without.  She  seemed  to  see  a 
great  big  rag-bag,  while  somewhere  in  its  midst  could 
be  heard  The  Greenwoods  singing  to  a  doll. 

"  What  on  earth  are  you  doing !  "  Exasperation  sat 
upon  Mrs.  Burns'  fat,  kindly  countenance. 

"  Is  that  you,  Mother  Burns  ?  "  called  a  genial  young 
voice  from  the  far  side  of  the  lingerie.  "  I'm  packing 
up!" 

"  What  for,  I'd  like  to  know?  " 

"  Haven't  you  heard?  Why,  I'm  a-going  back  to 
Francie's." 

"  That's  no  reason  for  a  mess  like  this.  Who  brought 
those  trunks  from  the  attic  ?  " 


194  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Mr.  Chester  and  Walter.  What's  good  for  the 
mumps  ?  " 

"  Much  right  they  had  to  do  it !  Why  have  you  un- 
packed your  winter  things?  " 

"  To  pack  'em  up  again,  of  course.  I'm  going 
away." 

"  Why  didn't  you  wait  for  me  to  pack  ?  " 

"  And  you  busy  as  a  wet  hen  ?  I  wouldn't  be  so  sel- 
fish? This  packing  had  to  be  done,  so  I  just  pitched 
in  and  did  it!  I  can  pack." 

"  It  looks  like  it !  "  scornfully. 

"  I've  seen  it  done  millions  of  times !  I've  seen  hun- 
dreds of  girls  packing  up  at  one  time, — a-shaking  and 
a-folding  and  a-laughing  and  a-crying.  It's  easy. 
Just  roll  things  tight,  wad  'em  down  the  corners, 
and  be  careful  about  your  hat.  Pin  it  down,  sew  it 
down,  or  pile  things  on  top  of  it, — but  hold  it  steady ! 
If  you'd  a-waited  ten  minutes,  I'd  a-had  the  whole  thing 
done." 

"  All  your  things  are  ruined,  and  your  dresses 
will  have  to  be  pressed  again !  " 

"  Never  mind  about  those  dresses.  France  will  fix 
'em.  I've  got  to  hurry  with  this  packing." 

"  I  have  a  mind  to  show  this  room  to  your  guard- 
ian." 

"  He  told  me  to  pack  hisself." 

"  Then  I  know  I  will  show  it  to  him.  The  idea  of 
sending  a  baby  up  here  to  pack  a  trunk !  Why  are  you 
taking  every  rag  you  have  on  a  week's  visit  ?  " 

"  A  religious  person  must  be  prepared  for  any- 
thing. I  know  what  I've  been  praying  for  and  I  know 
what  this  visit  means.  And  if  anything  should  hap- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  195 

pen  to  the  Doctor,  I  shall  stay  with  Francie, — and  I 
shall  need  these  clothes !  " 

The  packing  continued  strenuously  all  afternoon 
and  far  into  the  night,  beginning  again  next  morning. 
Robert  very  considerately  postponed  his  departure 
one  day  on  account  of  it.  Some  guardians  would  have 
gone  off  and  left  the  child! 

There  was  a  dispute  over  every  garment  Mrs. 
Burns  wanted  to  leave  out.  One  trunk  was  sufficient, 
she  insisted;  and  Dr.  Kingston  upheld  her.  So  The 
Greenwoods  tried  to  smuggle  everything  she  had  into 
that  one  trunk. 

"  Now,  Greenwoods,  you  don't  need  that  dress. 
It's  too  hot  for  woolen  dresses." 

"  There  may  be  a  norther." 

"  You  are  prepared  for  a  norther." 

"  There  may  be  another." 

"  Then  wear  the  same  clothes  you  did  for  the 
first." 

"  France  doesn't  like  dirty  clothes." 

"  Anyway,  you  can't  take  that  dress.  You  seem 
to  think  you  are  going  to  the  North  Pole  instead  of 
to  a  summer  resort  in  Virginia !  " 

"  It's  cool  in  the  mountains.  And  suppose  the 
doctor  falls  off  the  top  of  that  mountain  and  breaks 
his  neck.  Why,  I  shall  stay  all  winter,  and  I  shall 
need  this  dress." 

"  Let's  wait  till  he  breaks  his  neck  and  see.  It 
isn't  sweet  in  you  to  be  making  such  plans  for  him 
either.  I'm  shocked  at  you." 

"  God  knows  best,  Mother  Burns.  His  ways  are 
past  finding  out.  If  you  knew  as  much  about  'em  as 
I  do,  you'd  always  try  to  be  prepared.  Anything  may 


196  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

happen  once  we  get  to  Francie, — cyclones,  earth- 
quakes, volcanoes  or  yellow  fever.  Then  I  shall  stay 
with  Francie,  and  I  shall  need  that  dress." 

Mrs.  Burns  was  firm;  but  for  all  that,  the  dress, — 
along  with  sundry  other  articles  that  Woody  thought 
would  be  needed  when  disaster  overtook  her  luckless 
guardian, — got  into  the  trunk.  When  the  receptacle 
was  filled  to  nearly  bursting,  and  most  of  the  child's 
summer  outfit  still  remained  unpacked,  the  discrepancy 
between  the  number  of  things  in  the  trunk  and  the 
number  she  had  put  there  made  the  housekeeper  sus- 
picious. An  investigation  was  instituted,  the  fraud 
discovered,  when,  with  groans,  tears,  recriminations, 
and  protestations,  the  repacking  was  begun. 

During  the  process  the  entire  household  became  in- 
terested, and  competition  for  the  keyhole  was  sharp. 

"  What  a  whirlwind  of  excitement  that  child 
creates ! "  Mrs.  Kingston  exclaimed  impatiently. 
"  We  have  not  had  a  peaceful  moment  since  she  came !  " 

This  being  true,  she  should  have  welcomed  the  res- 
pite offered  by  the  child's  absence,  but  as  The  Green- 
woods was  leading  Robert  to  Miss  Faunce,  no  comfort 
was  to  be  gained.  Mrs.  Kingston  had  grown  weary 
of  trying  to  be  friends  with  Woody,  and  while  she 
had  not  given  up  entirely,  her  good  intentions  had 
relapsed. 

"  But  we  have  had  something  better  than  peace- 
ful moments,"  laughed  Chester,  who  was  in  the  living 
room  with  her;  "we  have  had  The  Greenwoods." 

At  this  moment  Marie  rushed  in,  sobbing  bitterly, 
and  threw  herself  despairingly  into  her  mother's  arms. 
"  She's  going,  Mamma ;  she's  going !  The  only 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  197 

friend  I  ever  had !    Oh,  what  will  become  of  me  without 
her?  " 

"  Don't  be  silly,  Marie.  And  the  idea  of  jour  saying 
that  Sylvia  is  the  only  friend  you  ever  had!  Besides, 
she  doesn't  leave  until  to-morrow !  " 

"  But  she  has  told  me  good-bye.  She  says  good- 
byes are  too  serious  to  leave  until  the  last.  She  always 
gets  hers  done  beforehand  and  goes  off  pleasantly. 
And  she  gave  me  a  ring  to  remember  her  by,  Mamma, 
and  hopes  we  shall  meet  again !  " 

"  You  probably  will,  Marie.  She  is  only  to  be  gone 
a  week." 

"  That's  what  Brother  Robert  says,  Mamma ;  but 
God  knows  best." 

These  pious  sentiments  on  the  young  daughter's  lips 
had,  at  first,  startled  the  mother  into  the  fear  of  an 
early  death  for  her  darling,  but  after  tracing  them  to 
their  rightful  source,  The  Greenwoods,  Mrs.  Kingston 
became  sardonic.  The  Greenwoods'  religion  excited 
only  Mrs.  Kingston's  impatience  and  contempt;  for 
The  Greenwoods  believed  that  happiness  had  been  the 
object  of  man's  creation;  and  that  health,  wealth,  cul- 
ture, fame,  and  power  were  merely  the  means  to  that 
end.  Her  religion  consisted  in  drawing  supplies  of 
bliss  from  its  great  invisible  Source  and  in  passing 
them  on  to  others. 

Mrs.  Kingston,  on  the  other  hand,  held  strong  views 
concerning  original  sin  and  expiation,  and  considered 
happiness  only  an  incident.  Duty  she  regarded  as  a 
foe  to  be  grappled  with  and  overcome.  Looking  him 
sternly  in  the  eye,  with  sour  mien,  she  failed  to  under- 
stand The  Greenwoods,  who,  believing  him  to  be  the 
guide  to  universal  happiness,  skipped  along  so  mer- 


198  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

rily  by  his  side  that  she  was  thought  to  be  in  bad  com- 
pany. 

"  I  fail  to  see  what  God  has  to  do  with  the  case, 
Marie." 

"  He  works  in  divers  ways,  Mamma,  and  He  is  tak- 
ing Woody  back  to  Miss  Faunce." 

"  It  appears  that  Robert  is  taking  her  back,"  Mrs. 
Kingston  spoke  bitterly. 

"  God  is  moving  through  him."  Marie  was  well  in- 
structed in  the  doctrine. 

Mrs.  Kingston's  feeling  at  that  moment  was  that 
God  might  be  about,  a  better  business ;  but  she  could 
not  say  this  to  her  young  daughter,  nor  could  she  ex- 
plain that  a  different  agency  might  be  at  work.  So 
she  changed  the  subject  from  The  Greenwoods'  theol- 
ogy,— in  which  she  and  her  family  were  only  pawns  in 
the  child's  game  of  life, — to  The  Greenwoods'  haugh- 
tiness. 

"  I  should  think  that  after  her  refusal  to  associate 
with  you,  you  would,  if  you  have  any  pride,  be  glad 
for  her  to  leave !  " 

"  Oh,  that  was  because  of  my  manners !  She  says 
they  have  improved  wonderfully  since  she  came.  Now 
she  doesn't  mind  associating  at  all." 

Marie  was  decidedly  uplifted  by  the  compliment ;  but 
Mrs.  Kingston, — though  her  pride  had  been  nerving  it- 
self to  blows  during  the  past  two  months,-^was  pierced 
to  the  quick.  That  the  dependent,  penniless  child,  who 
had  been  relegated  to  the  servant's  care  "  didn't  mind 
associating  "  with  the  pampered  daughter  of  the  house 
was  a  bitter  pill;  but  that  Marie,  the  little  princess 
whom  all  had  delighted  to  honor,  should  be  grateful 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  199 

for  the  crumbs  of  recognition  that  fell  from  the  beg- 
gar's table  was  nauseating. 

The  situation  was  too  much  for  Chester,  who  saun- 
tered to  The  Greenwoods  for  light  and  cheer.  "  How 
is  the  packing  getting  on?  "  he  asked.  For  the  dispute 
was  still  raging. 

Groans  answered  him. 

"  I  never  worked  as  hard  in  my  life  as  I  have  over 
this  trunk ! "  exclaimed  Mother  Burns  despairingly. 

"  She  won't  let  me  take  a  thing !  "  wailed  Woody. 

"  You  are  the  worst  child  I  ever  saw !  " 

"  You  are  mean  as  you  can  be !  What  difference 
does  it  make  to  you  what  I  take?  " 

"  Why  do  you  want  a  cloak  when  it  is  ninety  in  the 
shade?  " 

"  I'm  going  on  top  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Do  you  want 
me  to  freeze?  " 

"  No  danger.  Put  that  cloak  back  where  you  found 
it!" 

"  Suppose  we  have  a  cyclone !  " 

"  Your  spring  wrap  is  sufficient." 

"  A  spring  wrap  would  look  pretty  in  a  cyclone, — 
now,  wouldn't  it?  " 

The  Greenwoods,  who  seemed  to  be  well  informed 
as  to  the  costumes  best  adapted  to  the  various  cata- 
clysms of  nature,  looked  disdainful.  Chester  could  re- 
frain no  longer. 

"  You  had  better  put  it  in,  Mother  Burns.  How 
would  you  like  it  yourself, — only  a  spring  wrap,  and 
a  cyclone  coming?  " 

The  Greenwoods  smiled  gratefully  at  her  champion, 
but  the  harassed  housekeeper  got  up  from  her  kneel- 
ing posture  to  face  this  new  tormenter;  and,  as  the 


200  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

poor  woman's  back  was  turned,  the  cloak  disappeared 
down  a  corner  of  the  trunk. 

"  You  quit  encouraging  this  child,  Chester  King- 
ston !  I'm  pestered  enough  already !  You  are  to  blame 
for  the  whole  thing,  anyhow, — bringing  a  trunk  down 
here  for  a  baby  to  play  with!  Now,  you  leave  this 
room.  And,  Woody,  you  go  with  him." 

"  I  haven't  time,  Mother  Burns.  I've  got  to  pack 
this  trunk." 

"  I'll  pack  this  trunk.     You  get  out." 

"  How  can  I  ever  find  my  things,  if  I  don't  see  where 
you  put  them?  Besides,  I  want  to  help.  You  look 
so  tired !  " 

But  Mother  Burns  had  endured  enough.  So,  reso- 
lutely ejecting  her  young  assistant,  she  called  a  maid, 
bolted  the  door  and,  starting  at  the  bottom,  repacked 
the  trunk,  strapped  and  locked  it,  had  it  carried  to  the 
station,  and  gave  the  key  to  Robert. 

"  Whatever  you  do,"  she  cautioned  him,  "  don't  give 
her  that  key  till  she  is  on  the  train  and  the  train  has 
started,  or  she  will  be  back  here  packing  it  all  over 
again !  "  Mrs.  Burns  wiped  the  perspiration  from  her 
brow.  % 

At  one  time  the  young  man  would  have  been  scorn- 
ful in  the  face  of  such  a  manifestation  of  weakness,  but 
now  he  was  only  sympathetic.  He  promised. 

"  Take  care  of  her,  Robert ;  and  take  care  of  your- 
self!  Don't  break  your  neck  on  those  mountains,  and 
look  out  for  cyclones,  and  earthquakes.  Have  they 
smallpox  or  yellow  fever  there?  " 

"  I  haven't  heard  of  it." 

"  Well  I  have.  I  haven't  heard  anything  else  these 
last  two  days.  What  you  mean  by  taking  the  child  to 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  201 

such  a  sickly,  stormy,  dangerous  region,  I  can't 
imagine!  Watch  the  clouds,  be  careful  of  the  snakes 
and  if  she  gets  sick  bring  her  straight  back  to  me! 
And  don't  give  her  that  key!  " 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

HAS  BEEN  was  not  its  name,  but  since  its  glory  had 
been  shattered  by  the  War  that  is  what  they  called  it. 
For  generations  the  same  families  had  been  coming  to 
drink  of  its  waters,  and  among  the  regular  frequent- 
ers had  been  the  Faunces  and  the  Woffords.  Frances 
was  there  now  with  her  brother  and  aunt;  so  was  her 
life-long  enemy,  Edith  Wofford,  and  there  too  came 
Robert  and  The  Greenwoods. 

All  was  well  with  The  Greenwoods,  but  something 
was  wrong  with  the  Foresters, — an  impalpable  some- 
thing that  caused  a  stiffness  even  in  their  relations  with 
their  charge.  For  one  thing, — Frances  refused  to  ac- 
knowledge the  partnership. 

"  I  would  not  presume,"  she  said  coldly,  "  to  attend 
to  Dr.  Kingston's  duty  for  him,  when  he  is  present  and 
able  to  attend  to  it  himself.  So  ask  permission  of  your 
guardian,  Greenwoods." 

Robert  was  not  easily  discouraged.  He  had  come  to 
find  out  why  she  hated  him  "  like  poison,"  and  intended 
to  do  so.  That  she  hated  him  seemed  evident,  and  when 
her  dislike  was  more  apparent  than  usual  he  went  for 
consolation  to  Edith.  Not  knowing  of  the  existing 
enmity,  he  liked  to  talk  to  her  of  Frances. 

"  Dr.  Kingston,  do  you  like  France  ?  "  asked  The 
Greenwoods  abruptly  one  day  when  he  was  smoking 
alone  under  the  trees  and  she  had  joined  him  with  a 
businesslike  mien. 

His  feeling  towards  Miss  Faunce  was  not  a  subject 
202 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  203 

he  cared  to  discuss ;  but  as  his  reply  was  certain  to  be 
taken  to  headquarters,  he  knew  it  behooved  him  to  be 
civil.  "  Of  course." 

"  Do  you  want  to  keep  friends  with  her?  "  His  in- 
terrogator was  riding  a  stick-horse  and  he  felt  like  us- 
ing her  steed  against  her.  "  Yes." 

"  Then  you  let  Edith  alone !  " 

He  was  puzzled  and  smiled  at  her  forgivingly. 

"  We  don't  let  young  gentlemen  who  eat  at  our  table 
run  after  Edith." 

"Why?" 

"  I  told  you  about  her  and  Frances's  feud,  Dr.  King- 
ston. Now  don't  pretend  you  have  forgotten."  En- 
lightment  overspread  his  visage.  He  had  heard  of  Miss 
Faunce's  enemy,  but  had  not  known  that  it  was  Edith. 
"  Besides,  there's  Mr.  Cameron." 

He  had  heard  of  Mr.  Cameron  too.  Mr.  Cameron 
had  won  fame  as  the  man  who  had  cut  Mark  Perkins 
out. 

"Is  he  here?" 

"  No,  but  Edith  is ;  Ned  was  her  beau,  and  France  cut 
her  out.  So  now  they  keep  their  friends  apart.  I 
know  you  are  not  beaux  with  Francie,  because  you  are 
sweethearts  already  with  Mrs.  Wingo,  and  nobody  can 
be  lovers  with  two  girls  at  the  same  time,  let  alone 
three." 

"Three!"  he  gasped. 

"  Yessir ;  for  there  is  Miss  Ardelia,  too.  But  France 
wants  it  to  be  distinctly  understood, — I  heard  her  tell 
her  aunt  so, — that  she's  not  in  the  running!  So  you 
and  her  can't  be  lovers.  But  you  can  be  friends.  I 
know  she  has  been  haughty  to  you,  Dr.  Kingston;  but 
you  must  make  up  with  her  just  the  same  out  of  regard 


204  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

to  me.  I  don't  want  any  quarreling  in  my  family.  So 
you  let  Edith  alone.  France  hates  her  like  poison !  " 

He  winced  at  the  words.  Evidently  Miss  Faunce  had 
taken  a  strong  dislike  to  poison.  According  to  The 
Greenwoods,  she  hated  him  in  the  same  degree.  He  be- 
gan to  sympathize  with  Edith. 

"  I  don't  see  why  you  are  so  crazy  about  Edith,  Dr. 
Kingston.  She  is  such  a  story-teller !  " 

"  Greenwoods !  Please  speak  more  respectfully  of 
your  elders." 

"  It  is  you  she  told  it  on.  And  it  was  you  what  said 
it  wasn't  so." 

"  What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  Your  name.  She  said  it  was  Octavius ;  you  say 
it's  Bob.  Which  storied?  " 

So  it  was  Edith  who  had  started  that.  Now  Rob- 
ert recognized  that  impalpable  something  that,  like  a 
ghost,  stood  between  himself  and  his  fellow-Forester. 
It  was  a  ghost, — the  ghost  of  Octavius  Caesar!  Miss 
Faunce  believed  that  he  was  indifferent  to  her, — yet 
pursued  her  with  his  attentions.  She  had  been  led  by 
Woody  to  believe  that  he  was  a  flirt,  while  Edith  had 
hinted  that  he  was  trying  to  avenge  his  uncle's  re- 
jection at  her  hands. 

Robert  groaned.  He  could  convince  Miss  Faunce 
that  he  was  not  Octavius  but  Anthony;  he  could  avoid 
Edith.  But  what  could  he  do  with  The  Greenwoods? 

"  Look  here,  Woody,  what  business  is  all  this  of 
yours?  "  he  asked  sharply. 

"  You  are  my  guardian,  Dr.  Kingston,  I  want  you 
to  act  right." 

"  I  want  you,  to  act  right  too,  young  lady,  and — " 

"  I  do.     I  always  do  the  best  I  can." 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  205 

"  What  is  this  nonsense  you  have  been  telling  Miss 
Faunce  about  Mrs.  Wingo  and  myself?  " 

"  Not  a  word,  'cepting  you  are  a-going  to  marry 
her!" 

"  The  deuce !  Woody,  I've  a  mind  to  beat  you  to 
death!" 

"  But  you  haven't  got  no  license  for  it." 

"  You  talk  entirely  too  much !  But  since  you  have 
started  this  report  you  can  stop  it :  I  am  not  going  to 
marry  Mrs.  Wingo !  " 

"  But  I  have  already  promised  Harriet  that  you 
would.  Me  and  her  have  arranged  everything.  What 
have  you  and  the  widow  busted  up  about  ?  " 

A  longing  to  chastise  the  child  assailed  him  but, — 
with  difficulty, — he  mastered  it.  "  Mrs.  Wingo  and  I 
have  never  been  engaged.  Now  never  let  me  hear  of 
you  talking  about  my  private  affairs  again !  " 

"  Can't  I  even  write  and  tell  Harriet  you  had  rather 
not  marry  her  mamma?  I  think  she  ought  to  know. 
They're  depending  on  it." 

At  this  he  glared  so  ferociously  that  she  prudently 
withdrew,  and  resolved  to  write  without  waiting  for  his 
consent.  For  Harriet  would  want  to  know,  and  The 
Greenwoods  did  not  believe  in  keeping  people  in  sus- 
pense. 

The  Greenwoods  had  given  her  guardian  good  ad- 
vice about  Edith,  and  he  acted  upon  it.  He  avoided  her 
and  allowed  his  love  for  Frances  to  show  forth  more 
constantly,  until  the  warmth  of  its  rays  melted  Miss 
Faunce's  coldness.  His  numerous  attentions  dissipated 
her  doubt,  and  as  her  doubt  vanished,  she  grew  kind ;  as 
she  grew  kind,  he  grew  hopeful. 


206  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

This  happy  state  lasted  for  three  days.  The  time 
seemed  propitious  for  a  proposal,  and  he  hinted  that 
he  had  a  question  of  importance  to  ask.  And  Frances 
smiled, — and  understood. 

Octavius  was  almost  vanquished. 


CHAPTER    XXV 

OVER  in  a  corner  of  the  hotel  grounds  was  a  huge 
moss-covered  boulder,  precipitous,  though, — by  the 
help  of  a  gnarled  old  apple  tree,  which  shaded  the  sum- 
mit from  the  glare  of  the  sun, — ascent  was  possible  to 
the  nimble. 

In  joyous  discomfort,  two  little  girls  were  dangling 
their  feet  over  the  steepest  edge, — The  Greenwoods  and 
her  recovered  chum  of  the  golden  locks.  They  were 
gazing  with  lively  interest  at  the  mountains  which, 
surrounding  them,  rose  tier  above  tier,  while  green 
faded  into  blue,  and  the  blue  of  the  mountains  receded 
into  the  blue  of  the  sky. 

Goldilocks'  uplifted  gaze  was  filled  with  horror  and 
apprehension ;  The  Greenwoods',  with  cheerful  awe  not 
unmixed  with  curiosity  and  a  proprietary  interest. 
She  spoke  with  the  modest  pride  of  an  animal  trainer 
exhibiting  his  jungle  beasts: 

"  You  wouldn't  think,  just  to  look  at  'em,  that  they 
was  apt  to  go  off  most  any  minute,  now,  would  you, 
Goldilocks?" 

With  the  unconsciously  given  aid  of  a  retired  naval 
officer,  she  had  selected  a  volcano  as  the  most  conve- 
nient and  suitable  destiny  for  her  guardian.  But  the 
secret  proving  too  active  for  her  sole  retention,  she  had 
besought  her  friend's  help  in  keeping  it.  Far,  how- 
ever, from  appreciating  the  magnificent  spectacle 
Woody  was  about  to  present,  Goldilocks  was  filled  with 

207 


208  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

commiseration  for  the  sacrificial  victim  and  with  fears 
for  the  summer  colony. 

"  I  knew  something  was  a-going  to  happen  to  him, 
but  I  couldn't  imagine  what  it  would  be,  till  I  saw  those 
mountains  lying  about  so  handy.  I'd  been  anticipat- 
ing a  cyclone,  but  I  knew  then  it  would  be  a  volcano.  I 
think  it  will  be  that  peaked-looking  one  in  the  third 
row.  It  looks  about  ready  to  go  off." 

"  Do  you  s'pose  it  will  hurt  him,  Woody  ?  " 

"  Not  a  speck.  If  it  would,  1  shouldn't  have  it.  I 
don't  want  to  hurt  the  Doctor.  All  I  want  is  just  to 
shut  him  up  safe  somewhere,  till  I'm  of  age ;  and  this  is 
the  best  plan  I  could  make.  The  Captain  saw  Vesuvius 
erupt,  and  it's  exactly  what  I've  been  after  for  the  Doc- 
tor. It  will  teach  him  a  lesson,  keep  him  perfectly  safe, 
and  not  hurt  a  hair  of  his  head !  " 

The  Greenwoods'  knowledge  was  vast, — but  hazy; 
her  discourse,  necessarily,  the  same;  and  Goldilocks, 
who  remained  in  some  doubt  as  to  whether  Vesuvius, 
Pompeii,  and  Herculaneum  were  mountains,  towns,  or 
people,  sometimes  was  hard  put  to  tell  which  did  the 
erupting  and  which  were  buried. 

"  The  Captain  says,  first  you  hear  a  rumble  like 
thunder " 

"  Listen !  "  gasped  Goldilocks.  The  Greenwoods 
turned  her  head  critically,  but  gave  a  disappointed 
shake. 

"  That's  just  the  bowling  alley.  It  fooled  me  at 
first."  She  regarded  "  the  peaked  one  "  again.  "  After 
it  rumbles  and  busts  open,  gas,  ashes,  cinders,  lava,  fire, 
molten  rocks,  and  all  kinds  of  hot  things  shoot  out. — " 

"  Why,  it  will  kill  us  all !  " 

"  The  Captain  says  not,  and  he  was  there.    You  see, 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  209 

God  has  arranged  it  so  lovely  for  'era  in  his  bounti- 
ful providence  and  goodness!  First,  the  gas  comes, — 
for  cooking  and  lights ;  next,  the  nice  soft  ashes  to 
protect  them  from  the  lava  and  hot  stuff,  and  then,  the 
molten  rocks  to  keep  the  air  out.  It  can't  hurt,  any- 
how; for  it's  not  a  killing  miracle,  but  just  a  burying 
one.  One  happened  thousands  and  thousands  of  years 
ago ;  and  buried  'em  millions  and  millions  of  feet  be- 
neath the  level  of  the  sea.  And  their  friends  died,  and 
all  who'd  ever  known  'em,  and  their  children,  and  their 
children's  children;  and  their  name  was  forgotten  on 
the  face  of  the  earth.  Millions  of  years  passed.  Then 
one  day  a  man  was  digging  a  well.  And  when  he  got 
to  the  bottom  of  it, — there  sat  Pompeii  and  Hercula- 
neum ! " 

"Weren't  they  dead?" 

"  Why  child,  they  was  eating  their  dinner !  Every- 
thing was  just  like  it  had  been  millions  of  years  be- 
fore. It  was  like  the  sleeping  beauty.  Them  what  was 
eating  their  dinner — kept  on  eating;  them  what  was  at 
the  camphor  theatre — stayed  there;  a  bird  was  there 
with  its  wings  outstretched,  and  a  mother  with  a  baby 
in  her  arms." 

"  Hadn't  it  grown  any?  " 

"  How  could  it  grow?    It  was  air-tight." 

"How  did  they  breathe  then?" 

"  They  didn't  breathe.  That's  what  kept  'em  young. 
We  have  to  breathe  'cause  we  are  up  in  the  air.  And 
if  you  are  around  where  air  is  you've  got  to  breathe 
it,  and  breathe  it  all  the  time.  If  you  stop  a  minute 
it  will  kill  you,  and  if  you  keep  on  it  will  wear  out  your 
lungs.  Air  is  awful  dangerous !  But  they  hadn't  any 
there,  so  they  was  safe." 


210  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  It  sounds  unhealthy  to  me." 

"  If  it  was  unhealthy  they  would  'a  died." 

"  I  bet  Dr.  Kingston  won't  like  it ! " 

"  I  don't  care.     It  will  do  him  good." 

"  It  isn't  polite ;  and  orphans  ought  to  be  polite. 
You  say  politeness  is  doing  as  you  would  be  done  by. 
How'd  you  like  it?  " 

"  Fine !  I'd  live  thousands  of  years  and  never  get 
grown  and  cranky.  And  I'd  see  a  volcano  inside, — and 
the  middle  of  the  earth.  But  it  wouldn't  do  any  good, 
for  I'd  stay  little,  and  when  they  dug  me  up  he  would 
still  be  my  guardian.  So  it  must  be  him." 

"  It's  a  long  time  for  him  to  stay  there, — till  you're 
twenty-one." 

"  It  takes  that  long  for  me  to  get  grown ;  but  he  will 
be  as  good  as  new  when  he  gets  out.  Besides,  it's  my 
duty.  I've  got  to  put  him  down.  I've  vowed  it ;  and  this 
is  the  best  chance  I'll  ever  have."  She  gazed  dreamily  to- 
ward the  "  peaked  mountain  ".  "  I've  wondered  and 
wondered  what  that  meant :  *  All  guardians  must  be 
put  down.  But  where  I  was  to  put  the  Doctor  I 
couldn't  tell  to  save  me.  Now  it's  plain.  Have  you 
ever  noticed,  Goldilocks,  that  if  you  think  long  enough 
about  a  problem,  you  always  get  the  answer?  Well, 
'twas  so  with  this.  The  very  minute  I  heard  the  Cap- 
tain tell  the  fat  lady  in  purple  about  Vesuvius,  I  under- 
stood exactly  how  Dr.  Kingston  was  to  be  put  down, 
where  put,  and  how  kept." 

"How?" 

"  Volcanoes,  prayer,  and  faith.  It's  strange, — but 
whenever  it's  a  person's  bounden  duty  to  do  a  thing, 
no  matter  how  hard  the  duty  or  how  small  the  person, 
there's  always  a  way  to  do  it.  Who  would  think 


"THE  GREENWOODS" 

that  I  could  put  the  Doctor  down?  Lots  of  girls  would 
'a  give  up.  But  I  knew  being  little  was  no  excuse;  so 
I  counted  my  pulse,  and  prayed ;  and  now  the  Lord  has 
prepared  a  way  for  me  to  walk  in.  I  love  mira- 
cles !  " 

"  I  don't.     I  don't  think  they're  nice." 

"  And  them  in  the  Bible !  Where's  your  religion, 
child?" 

"  This  sort  isn't  in  the  Bible." 

"  How  about  Lot's  wife,  what  was  turned  to  salt  ? 
Or  Ananias,  what  dropped  dead?  Or  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah?  Compared  to  them  this  is  hygienic." 

"  But  when  that  thing  gets  loose  it  will  be  dangerous 
for  the  rest  of  us !  " 

"  Miracles  never  hurt  a  soul  but  the  one  they're 
after.  There  was  Elisha's  bear.  Did  it  eat  up  every- 
body it  met  just  because  they  was  convenient,  or  did 
it  go  about  eating  folks  in  general?  No,  it  ate  the  chil- 
dren what  called  the  prophet  names,  and  let  the  rest 
alone.  And  there  was  the  whale :  It  went  after  Jonah, 
and  it  got  Jonah,  and  it  swallowed  Jonah,  but  it  let  the 
rest  of  the  folks  alone.  When  a  miracle  starts  after 
a  person  it  gets  that  person  and  quits?  When  the  vol- 
cano went  after  Pompeii,  did  it  get  Washington  or  New 
York  ?  No,  it  got  Pompeii !  " 

"  I  pity  his  mother, — with  her  boy  buried  alive." 

"  I  don't.  Pm  arranging  this  just  to  keep  from 
living  in  her  house.  And  if  I  can  stand  my  papa  be- 
ing buried  for  good  and  all,  she  can  put  up  with  her 
boy  being  buried  for  a  few  years." 

"  But  your  papa's  soul  is  in  heaven,  and  her  boy's 
will  be  under  the  ground.  And  how  will  that  nice  Mr. 
Chester  feel?" 


"THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  You  can't  please  everybody,  and  if  this  pleases  the 
Lord,  I'm  satisfied.  Then,  I  shall  live  with  Francie." 

"  You  are  a  changed  girl,  Greenwoods !  You 
wouldn't  have  been  up  to  a  trick  like  this  two  months 
ago.  When  it's  too  late,  you'll  be  sorry!  His  people 
will  die  of  grief,  and  when  you  dig  him  up  and  find  him 
raving  crazy,  or  his  eyes  out,  or  him  injured  in  some 
awful  way,  you'll  be  ashamed  to  look  his  mother  in  the 
face." 

"  I'm  tired  looking  in  her  face  anyway,  so  I  won't 
bother.  And  it  won't  hurt  him.  It's  not  that  kind  of 
miracle.  And  if  his  people  die  of  grief,  they'll  be 
silly." 

"  Greenwoods,  I  had  a  brother  to  die  when  I  was  a 
little  girl.  And  Mamma  is  resigned  to  him  being  dead, 
but  sometimes  she  dreams  that  he  is  buried  alive,  and 
it  most  runs  her  crazy.  He  isn't  buried  alive,  so  it  is 
just  the  thought  of  it  that  hurts;  for  that  is  the 
worst  thing  that  can  happen.  So  they  won't  be  silly 
for  grieving." 

"  I  didn't  know  about  all  that,  Goldilocks.  I  haven't 
got  any  people  'cept  France,  and  I  just  want  to  live 
with  her."  There  was  a  catch  in  her  voice, — a  catch 
that  went  to  her  little  chum's  heart.  "  I  didn't  know  it 
was  so  bad.  If  anybody  told  me  my  papa  was  buried 
alive,  I  should  be  so  glad  I  couldn't  see.  And  I  should 
dig  him  up  this  minute,  and  be  too  happy  to  live.  I 
think  it's  better  for  'em  to  be  buried  alive  than  dead; 
for  then  you  can  dig  'em  up  again !  But,  of  course,  if 
they  feel  like  that  about  it,  I'll  give  it  all  up.  I  don't 
want  to  hurt  any  one.  I  just  want  to  live  with 
Francie." 

She  choked  back  a  sob,  and  Goldilocks'  eyes  grew 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  213 

moist.  She  put  her  arms  around  Woody  and  kissed 
her, — to  the  imminent  danger  of  both  their  necks,  for 
the  rock  was  high, — crying  out,  "  I  knew  all  the  time 
you  didn't  mean  it,  darling.  You  just  didn't  under- 
stand. Maybe  there's  a  better  way.  Let's  ask  Miss 
Frances.  She  likes  him." 

"  No,  she  doesn't,  for  she'd  'a  told  me.  They  are  just 
friendly  on  my  account.  He  neglected  her,  and  she 
treated  him  haughty,  and  I  got  after  'em  about  it. 
It  wasn't  treating  me  right,  for  them  to  fuss." 

"  If  she  doesn't  like  him,  maybe  she  will  let  you  have 
the  volcano.  But  you'll  feel  better  if  you  ask.  So 
come  on,  honey." 

They  scrambled  cautiously  down,  and  Woody  went 
in  search  of  Frances,  who  was  playing  tennis.  But 
when  she  saw  the  Greenwoods'  troubled  little  face,  she 
hastily  dropped  her  racket,  and  led  the  despondent 
child  to  a  near-by,  rustic  bench. 

"  What's  worrying  my  angel?  " 

"  I'm  bothered  about  the  Doctor,  France." 

"  What  ails  him,  precious  ?  " 

Miss  Faunce  was  troubled  now. 

"  I  was  just  wondering  if  a  volcano  would  hurt  him 
any?" 

Frances  laughed  in  relief  and  kissed  her. 

"  It  would  if  he  got  in  its  way." 

"  It  didn't  hurt  Herculaneum  or  Pompeii." 

"  They  were  just  towns,  and  he  is  a  man." 

"  There  was  plenty  men  in  Pompeii.  They  wasn't 
hurt." 

"  Why,  precious " 

The  Greenwoods  wheedlingly  interrupted: 

"Listen,  Francie,  I  won't  have  a  volcano,  if  you 


"THE  GREENWOODS" 

don't  want  it.  But  if  we  bury  him  down  good  and  deep 
beneath  all  that  nice  soft  ashes  and  stuff,  and  keep 
him  there  till  I'm  of  age,  I  can  live  with  you.  I  don't 
want  to  go  back  to  the  Kingstons'.  I  like  my  own 
raised-up  adopted  best  and  want  to  live  in  her  house. 
It  won't  be  but  thirteen  years,  darling.  That  seems  a 
long  time, — especially  when  you  think  of  all  the  Sat- 
urdays and  vacations  and  Christmases.  But  he's 
stopped  school,  so  doesn't  count  the  Saturdays  any 
more ;  and  there  won't  be  any  vacations ;  and  I've  heard 
grown  folks  say  that  Christmas  never  seems  a  month 
a-coming.  It  won't  hurt  him.  So  let's  have  a  good 
one." 

This  plea,  which  should  have  melted  a  heart  of  stone, 
made  no  impression  upon  Frances.  She  was  shocked: 
and, — having  had  some  experience  with  The  Green- 
woods' miracles, — was  also  frightened.  "  Why,  darling, 
it  will  kill  him !  " 

"  It  didn't  kill  those  people  in  Vesuvius.  It  kept 
'em  fine ! " 

"  It  killed  them,  precious,  it  killed  them  all." 

"  Oh,  Francie !     Even  the  little  baby  and  the  bird  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sweet.  But  don't  cry,  darling.  A  volcano 
hasn't  got  him  yet." 

"And  never  will,"  sobbed  The  Greenwoods  heart- 
brokenly  ;  "  and  I'll  have  to  go  back  and  live  with  those 
hateful  Kingstons." 

"  Please  don't  cry,  precious ;  but  volcanoes  are  so 
unkind.  And  perhaps  there  are  gentler  means  of 
bringing  us, — you  and  me, — together  again." 

She  thought  of  her  approaching  interview  with 
Robert  and  thrilled  with  happiness.  Woody's  faith 
would  be  justified  after  all.  She  longed  to  confide  in 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  215 

her  and  to  set  her  fears  at  rest;  but  for  choking  and 
stammering  had  to  give  it  up. 

"  God  may  find  some  other  way  of  bringing  us  to- 
gether. Precious,  that  will  harm  no  one  and  make  us 
all  happy.  So  you  just  keep  on  praying,  sweet,  and 
don't  bother  about  the  particulars." 

"  All  right,"  agreed  The  Greenwoods  briskly ;  "  but 
before  we  start  another  miracle  we'd  better  get  this  one 
unprayed.  I've  been  working  on  it  a  week  and  it's 
about  ready  to  go  off.  Goldilocks  is  praying,  and 
s'pose  you  pray  too,  France;  and  while  you  two  are 
holding  it  steady,  I'll  tend  to  the  Doctor.  Maybe  all 
of  us  together  can  save  him." 

Frances  smiled  and  promised.  Of  course  there  was 
no  danger,  but  it  would  be  sweet  to  pray  for  Robert. 

"  Do  you  like  him,  Francie  ?  " 

A  shy  sweet  look  was  in  Francie's  eyes,  love's  ban- 
ners on  her  cheeks. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  a  little  bit." 


THE  GREENWOODS  thoughtfully  knocked  at  Robert's 
door.  All  lesser  virtues,  she  had  decided,  must  give 
way  to  the  need  of  saving  him.  Entering,  she  re- 
turned his  nod  of  welcome  and  nervously  seated  herself. 
How  was  a  small  girl  to  save  her  guardian  from  a 
volcano,  without  telling  him  that  she  had  prepared 
it  for  his  undoing?  The  situation  required  tact. 

"  When  are  you  a-going  to  Chicago,  Dr.  King- 
ston? "  For  his  own  good  he  just  had  to  be  moved 
to  a  distance,  but  she  stared  at  him  in  apprehension. 
And  well  she  might ;  for  while  there  was  business  to  be 
attended  to  in  Chicago,  he  was  not  pleased  at  this  re- 
minder. 

"  Sometime  soon." 

"But  how  soon?" 

She  knew  it  was  rude,  but  through  the  window  she 
saw  the  "  peaked-looking  one  "  ready  and  waiting,  and 
dared  not  hesitate.  He  put  down  his  paper. 

"  Greenwoods,  is  that  any  of  your  business?  " 

"  No  sir.  But — er — you  ought  to  be  getting  away 
from  here ! " 

"Why?"  He  smiled  indulgently  at  her  imperti- 
nence, for  underlying  his  disapproval  was  the  memory 
of  Miss  Faunce's  graciousness.  At  that  moment  it 
was  not  in  him  to  be  stern. 

His  smile  made  it  harder  still  for  Woody  to  tell  him 
the  truth. 

"  I  am  uneasy,  Dr.  Kingston." 
216 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  217 

"  What  about,  precious  ?  "  The  "  precious  "  was 
due  to  Miss  Faunce. 

"  Why,  er,  you — you  said  you  were  a-coming  to 
leave  me  here  with  France,"  gently  evaded  The  Green- 
woods, "  and  it  looks  like  you  are  a-going  to  stay  all 
summer, — and  not  leave  me  here  with  France  at  all.  I 
want  you  to  go  away, — and  leave  me  here  with  France." 

This  remark  was  so  unlike  courteous  and  self- 
possessed  Woody  that  he  listened  in  surprise.  He  saw 
that  something  was  behind  her  embarrassment,  and 
misgivings  seized  him.  Had  Miss  Faunce  said  some- 
thing? 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  leave,  Greenwoods  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  so  does  France." 

This  sounded  like  a  fib,  but  she  was  only  trying  to 
convey  to  him,  in  a  prudent  manner,  Frances's  fears  for 
his  safety.  Frances  wanted  him  saved  and  the  surest 
way  of  doing  this, — since  her  prayers  had  gone  so  far, 
— was  to  get  him  away  till  the  mountain  settled  down. 

"She  does!" 

"  Yes,  Dr.  Kingston ;  we've  just  been  talking  it  over." 

The  Greenwoods  meant  about  the  volcano;  he 
thought  she  meant  about  his  departure.  It  seemed 
strange, — her  coming  here  to  tell  him  that  his  ab- 
sence was  desired;  it  really  looked  as  if  she  had  been 
sent. 

He  was  aware  of  her  proclivity  for  repeating  all  she 
heard,  and  he  knew  Frances  was  too.  They  had  often 
laughed  together  over  it  and  had  shamelessly  turned 
the  trait  to  profit.  They  frequently  sent  each  other 
messages  through  The  Greenwoods, — messages  that 
they  hesitated  to  deliver  in  person.  Was  this  another 
of  those  occasions? 


218  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

He  had  given  her  a  hint  that  he  intended  to  propose. 
Was  she  giving  him  a  hint, — through  The  Greenwoods, 
— that  his  proposal  would  be  useless?  Had  she  consid- 
ered the  matter  and  decided  against  him?  Was  she 
trying  to  save  him  the  humiliation  of  a  rejection? 

As  it  would  not  do  to  place  too  much  reliance  upon 
The  Greenwoods'  statement,  he  decided  to  find  Frances 
and  read  his  answer  in  her  eyes. 

So  The  Greenwoods  was  summarily  dismissed. 

Frances,  dressed  for  the  evening,  walked  with  lag- 
ging steps  to  the  same  rustic  seat  where  she  had  talked 
with  Woody,  and  sat  down  to  think. 

She  had  conquered  her  jealousy  of  Edith,  Mrs. 
Wingo,  and  Miss  Ardelia,  temporarily, — but  distrusted 
her  own  fickle  self.  She  wanted  time  for  examination 
before  he  asked  that  question.  She  loved  him,  but  she 
had  loved  before.  Would  this  love  be  more  enduring 
than  the  last? 

"  Love  can't  last  always,"  she  reflected,  grown  cyn- 
ical about  the  tender  passion,  "  and  he  must  have  some 
fault  that  I  shall  see  when  I  cease  to  love  him;  so  I 
must  find  if  it  is  one  I  hate." 

While  she  was  vainly  trying  to  find  a  flaw,  he  came, 
— with  his  question,  she  supposed, — and  she  had  his 
answer  ready.  Feeling  as  if  her  thoughts  of  him  were 
visible  in  her  eyes,  she  blushed  and  turned  away. 

It  was  a  natural,  girlish  thing  to  do,  but  he, — who 
was  hoping  for  the  welcoming  glance  that  would  give 
the  lie  to  Woody's  words, — misconstrued  it. 

An  awkward  pause  ensued, — a  pause  in  which  her 
doubts  returned  and  his  fear  was  crystallized.  When 
she  looked  up,  trying  to  veil  with  a  mask  of  indiffer- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  219 

ence  her  timidity,  her  hopes,  and  fears,  the  ghost, 
Octavius,  had  returned  and  stood  between  them. 

Believing  she  had  decided  against  him,  Robert  re- 
solved sadly  to  go. 

"  As  I  suppose  you  know,  Miss  Faunce,  I  am  leaving 
to-night  for  Chicago." 

With  a  slight  shiver,  as  at  the  crash  of  falling 
hopes,  she  drew  her  head  up  proudly. 

"Yes?" 

"  I  have  intended  going  all  along.  I  suppose  you — 
understand?  " 

"  I  do," — icily.  It  had  been  as  she  feared.  He  was 
just  playing  a  little  game  of  hearts;  and  now,  having 
won,  was  leaving  her.  She  stood  there  unflinching,  but 
Mark  Perkins  was  avenged. 

u  I  have  come  to  ask," — in  spite  of  Octavius,  she 
took  heart  of  grace.  He  did  have  something  to  ask, — 
"  if  you  will  kindly  look  after  The  Greenwoods  while  I 
am  gone." 

"  I  shall  be  pleased  to  do  so."  Her  head  was  high, 
but  she  felt  as  if  he  had  stabbed  her  in  the  back. 

"  Thank  you.  Here  is  my  address, — in  case  you  tire 
of  her." 

"  Oh,  I  never  tire  of  her !  "  She  spoke  with  an  ac- 
cent on  the  "  her,"  and  then  she  turned  and  left  him. 

All  was  over  between  the  Foresters.  Octavius  had 
conquered. 

A  week  later  The  Greenwoods  was  talking  to  Frances 
in  the  room  that  they  shared.  She  was  dressed  for 
dinner,  and  sweet  and  dainty  she  looked,  from  the  top 
of  her  curl-crowned  head  to  the  tip  of  the  small,  white 
slipper  she  was  kicking  so  viciously  against  her  half- 
packed  trunk. 


220  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  He  is  the  meanest  man  on  earth,  France,  and  I 
won't  go  back  to  Wayville !  " 

"  You  will  spoil  your  slippers,  if  you  don't  stop 
kicking  that  trunk,"  said  Frances.  She  seemed  almost 
unsympathetic.  She  was  taking  great  pains  with  her 
own  toilet,  and  at  that  moment  was  brushing  her  hair. 

"  Hateful  wretch !  "  growled  Woody,  "  I  don't  blame 
you  for  hating  him  like  poison !  " 

Robert  had  returned  for  his  ward;  but  as  the  little 
resort  was  so  far  from  railroads,  or  civilization,  he  had 
been  forced  to  stay  all  night.  Having  so  much  time  and 
no  one  to  spend  it  with,  he  took  a  book  down  to  the 
spring  and  there  he  sulked  in  loneliness.  For  he  had 
concluded  that  Miss  Faunce  did  hate  him,  and  that  life 
was  not  worth  living.  His  melancholy  revery  was  in- 
terrupted : 

"Ouch!  Dr.  Kingston!  Murder!  Ow!  Ough!  Help!" 

He  sprang  up  in  alarm  and  saw  one  approaching 
with  leaps  and  bounds  emitting  shriek  upon  shriek, — 
one  who  (though  he  recognized  her  not  in  that  role) 
was  a  messenger  of  love.  It  was  The  Greenwoods.  She 
was  coming  to  straighten  a  snarl  she  had  tangled,  and 
advanced  precipitately. 

"  Is  anything  the  matter,  Greenwoods  ?  " 

He  spoke  sternly,  for  he,  too,  was  in  an  unsympathetic 
humor. 

"  Matter !  "  she  roared.  "  I  guess  there  is !  I've 
been  spanked ! " 

Could  he  have  heard  aright?  Remembering  Miss 
Faunce's  haughty  refusal  "  to  presume,"  he  wondered 
who  could  have  chastised  the  child.  He  stared. 

"  Has  everybody  in  this  hotel  the  right  to  spank  me 
whenever  they  blame  please?  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  221 

"  But  who  has  presumed  to  attend  to  my  duty  when 
I  am  present  and  able  to  attend  to  it  myself?  " 

"Huh!" 

"  Who  has  taken  it  upon  herself  to  spank  my  ward  ?  " 

"  France,  of  course,  you  idiot !  That's  who !  Old 
red-headed,  freckled-faced,  knock-kneed,  hateful 
thing!" 

"  I  am  amazed !  " 

"Me  too!  Old  mercenary  jilt!  Old  common  herd! 
Old " 


"  Greenwoods !     Don't  speak  in- 


"  You  bet  I  won't !  I'll  never  speak  to  her  again ! 
She  paints  too.  At  least  she's  a-going  to,  for  she  bor- 
rowed it  a  minute  ago !  She's " 

"  But  what  was  the  cause  of  the  tragedy?  " 

"  Nothing !  I  was  sitting  there  as  good  as  an  an- 
gel!" 

"Is  it  possible?" 

"  Of  course  it's  possible !  And  just  because  I  told 
her  that  I'd  told  you  that  she  hated  you  like  poison  she 
beat  me  to  death  with  her  brush !  " 

If  Woody  had  only  noted  the  expression  upon  her 
guardian's  face  at  this  announcement,  she  might  have 
gone  elsewhere  for  sympathy  or  redress. 

"  And  she  called  me  names !  She  said  I  was  a  miser- 
able little  fibster!" 

"  But  I  don't  understand,  dear  child."  He  took  her 
upon  his  knee  and  asked :  "  What  was  it  you  said 
to " 

"  I  said  she  paints,  and  is  an  old  cross-eyed " 

He  covered  her  mouth  with  his  hand. 

"  What  did  you  say,  I  mean,  to  anger  her?  " 

"  Ow, — take  your  dirty  hand  away !  " 


222  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  What  did  you  say,  I  mean,  to  anger  her?  " 

"  Ow, — take  your  dirty  hand  away !  " 

He  obeyed,  but  remained  in  readiness  to  stem  again 
the  flow  of  eloquence,  should  it  become  too  rapid? 

"  And  what  did  you  say  to  offend  her,  dear?  " 

"  Nothing!    The  old  cat's  just  mean !  " 

"  But  didn't  you  mention  something  about  saying 
she  hated  me  like  poison  ?  "  He  was  not  vindictive,  but 
Frances'  reply  to  that  suspicion  was  sweet  to  him. 

"  And  that's  every  word  I  said !  The  mean  old 
thing!"  / 

"  And  you  say  she  was  offended  ?  "  He  wanted  to 
hear  the  story  told  again. 

"  Offended !  She  nearly  popped, — and  over  noth- 
ing! She  knows  I  don't  approve  of  corporous  punish- 
ment, too.  I've  often  told  her  so !  She  knows  it  brutal- 
izes a  child  and  doesn't  appeal  to  its  higher  nature, 
and  is  a  tacky,  unstylish  thing  to  do!  She  knows  I've 
conscientious  scruples  against  it!  But  I  could  for- 
give her,  if  I'd  done  one  thing  to  deserve  it!  But 
I  hadn't !  " 

In  a  noble  attempt  at  saving  a  life,  The  Greenwoods 
had  almost  severed  two  loving  hearts.  Now  she  re- 
united them,  but  she  did  so  unconsciously  and  with  no 
good  intention.  She  was  Cupid's  agent,  but  was  under 
sealed  orders. 

"  She's  been  put  out  about  something,"  lamented 
Woody,  "  ever  since  you  went  to  Chicago ;  so  she  took 
it  out  on  me !  Oh,  I  hate  grown  folks !  They  haven't 
one  grain  of  sense!  And  I'll  never  speak  to  France 
again !  " 

She  sobbed  convulsively, — a  hapless  victim  in  the 
cause  of  love! 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  223 

Robert  looked  at  her  grimly.  He  was  sick  at  heart. 
If  Woody  had  been  wrong  about  Frances*  hating  him 
like  poison,  perhaps  she  had  been  mistaken  about 
Frances'  wanting  him  to  go  to  Chicago.  Had  he  been 
mistaken  too? 

He  looked  at  the  little  meddler,  who  would  neither 
permit  him  to  marry  Frances  nor  forget  her,  and  asked : 

"  Was  it  a  big  brush,  Woody?  " 

"  The  worst  I  ever  saw !  "  sobbed  The  Greenwoods. 

And  Robert  smiled. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

THEY  met  that  night, — with  confusion  on  Frances' 
side  and  infinite  tact  on  Robert's.  There  were  no  ex- 
planations ;  just  a  silent  agreement  to  blame  Woody 
for  everything, — and  to  make  allowances ;  just  a  gentle 
thaw,  but  two  souls  sang  a  duet  of  praise,  and  two 
hearts  had  reached  the  higher  understanding. 

When  Frances  went  to  her  room,  she  found  The 
Greenwoods  "  possuming  "  in  bed,  and  knew  herself  un- 
forgiven.  After  making  her  preparations  for  retiring, 
she  put  out  the  light  and,  The  Greenwoods'  stubborn 
silence  continuing,  made  the  first  advance, — not  alto- 
gether from  disinterested  motives. 

"Are  you  asleep,  Woody?" 

"  Yes ;  and  don't  you  wake  me  up !  " 

"  Don't  be  angry,  precious.  You  shouldn't  harbor 
unkind  feelings." 

"  Rats ! " 

"  And  whether  you  purposely  told  a  fib  or  not  you 
did  talk  too  much.  But  I'm  sorry  I  had  to  punish  you 
and  hope  it  won't  occur  again.  So  let's  be  friends." 

The  Greenwoods  sniffed  scornfully,  but  her  con- 
science was  touched. 

"  You  must  be  careful  about  repeating  all  you  hear, 
— or  imagine,  Woody.  You  must  have  hurt  Dr.  King- 
ston's feelings  when  you  told  him  I  hated  him.  How 
did  he  take  it,  darling?  Was  he  angry,  or  only  sad  and 
worried?  " 

That  was  the  crux  of  Miss  Faunce's  amiability;  she 
224 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  225 

wanted  to  know  how  her  lover  had  borne  the  tidings 
that  she  "  hated  like  poison."  Also  she  wanted  to 
know  when  he  had  heard  it.  Was  it  just  prior  to  that 
Chicago  trip? 

"  You  are  right,  France ;  not  in  licking  me,  you  cur, 
— for  lickings  are  always  wrong  in  principle  and  un- 
ladylike. Besides,  I'm  your  visitor  now,  not  your  child, 
and  should  be  treated  politely." 

"  Yes,  dear.  Certainly.  But  we  are  speaking 
of— 

"  I  know  it,  and  that's  what  you  are  right  about. 
I  do  talk  too  much.  Others  have  pointed  it  out,  and 
I've  noticed  it  myself.  It  will  get  you  into  trouble — 
every  time." 

"  And  it  was  so  unkind  to  say  I  hated  him.  Was  he 
much  shocked?  " 

"  Let's  see !  That  was  the  day  he  scolded  me  about 
the  chicken.  You  bet  he  was  shocked!  He  made  me 
promise  not  to  bury  any  more." 

"  I  don't  mean  about  the  chicken,  goosie?  " 

"  You  mean  about  me  talking  too  much,  then.  You 
are  right,  France.  There  is  no  sense  in  it.  I  believe 
I'll  give  it  up  entirely.  I  promise  you  that  some  day 
I  will." 

"  Not  entirely,  Greenwoods.  Your  guardian  wouldn't 
wish  you  to  quit  entirely.  Though  he  must  have  been 
sadly  grieved  when  you  said  I  hated  him.  How  did  he 
take  it?" 

"  It's  done,  though,  France.  There's  an  order  of  nuns 
what  take  the  vow  of  perpetual  silence.  I  think  I 
could  do  it." 

"  Perpetual  silence  isn't  necessary.  Just  don't  hurt 
people's  feelings, — as  you  did  his.  Did  he " 


226  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I  don't  scarcely  ever,  and  you  know  it !  " — hotly. 

"Don't  what?" — in  amazement. 

"  Don't  hurt  people's  feelings  'less  they  are  all  stuck 
out." 

"  You  hurt  his !  At  least,  I  suppose  they  were  hurt ! 
Weren't  they?" 

"Whose?" 

"Whom  have  we  been  discussing  all  this  time?" 

"  Me." 

"  Then  we  have  discussed  you  quite  long  enough ! 
Now  answer  my  question." 

"What  question?" 

Frances  laid  hands  upon  the  child  to  shake  her,  but 
thought  better  of  it.  She  was  almost  exasperated. 

"  Why  don't  you  listen  to  what  is  being  said,  Green- 
woods? I  want  to  know  if  Dr.  Kingston  seemed  wor- 
ried or  displeased  when  you  said  I  hated  him." 

"  To  hear  you  go  on,  France,  one  would  think  you 
was  in  love." 

"  How  absurd !  " 

"  I  am  glad  it  is  absurd,  for  bad  as  you  acted  to-day, 
I'd  hate  for  you  to  marry  into  that  family.  They  hate 
you  like  poison  because  you  jilted  their  Uncle  Mark; 
and  say  you  are  an  unprincipled  coquette,  and  can't 
keep  a  promise." 

Frances  caught  her  breath, — almost  with  a  sob. 
She  had  known  of  their  prejudice,  but  not  that  it  was 
so  intense. 

"  And  Susie  heard  Mrs.  Kingston  say  she  would 
never  receive  you  as  a  daughter  or  speak  to  the  doctor 
if  he  marries  you.  So  don't  worry  me  any  more  with 
how  he  looked  or  if  he  cared." 

"  Is — is  he  very  fond  of  his  mother,  Woody  ?  " 


«  THE  GREENWOODS  "  227 

"  Plum  crazy  about  her.  Their  affection  is  awful. 
He  thinks  everything  she  owns  is  sacred;  her  goldfish, 
her  bannisters,  the  very  floor  she  walks  on." 

The  last  part  of  this  sentence  Frances  missed.  One 
couldn't  listen  to  all  Woody  said,  but  if  she  had  heard 
about  the  bannisters  and  goldfish,  she  might  not  have 
taken  the  rest  of  the  utterance  so  seriously. 

Frances'  mother  was  only  a  shadowy  memory,  but 
it  was  like  the  fragrance  of  an  unseen  flower.  In  her 
mind  a  mother's  claim  was  paramount. 

Frances'  heart  sank.  Could  she,  with  her  fickle 
changeable  love,  come  between  so  devoted  a  mother  and 
son?  Could  she, — so  wilful  and  impulsive, — compen- 
sate him  for  the  loss  of  his  mother's  affection? 

She  could — while  love  lasted ;  but  the  strongest  arti- 
cle in  Frances'  creed  was  that  love  is  fleeting,  so  she 
was  always  making  plans  for  its  departure. 

The  Greenwoods,  tired  out  with  the  vagaries  of 
grown-ups,  soon  dropped  off  to  sleep,  but  Frances 
got  up  and  asked  counsel  of  the  stars. 

She  knew  she  loved  Robert,  but  how  could  she  know 
that  her  love  would  last? 

The  next  day  Robert  came  with  his  belated  ques- 
tion. But  the  psychological  moment  had  passed,  and 
Frances  refused  him. 

He  was  surprised,  and  puzzled  as  well.  Evidently 
she  had  sent  that  hint  through  Woody. 

"  I  had  hoped, — I  believe  I  had  reason  to  hope, — that 
you  loved  me,"  he  said. 

"  I  do.  But  love  never  lasts  long,  and  I  can't  form 
a  life-partnership  with  a  man  just  because  I  love  him. 
I  want  to  know  that  I  will  be  happy  with  him  without 
love." 


228  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

This  speech  was  not  soothing  to  a  lover's  ear.  "  Why 
do  you  think  love  doesn't  last?  " 

"  Because  I  have  loved  before." 

"  You  are  frank,  at  least," — coldly.  "  But," — more 
hopefully, — "  you  have  never  loved  me  before." 

"  No,  and  the  trouble  is  I  haven't  loved  you  very  long. 
Only, — since  I  met  you  in  June." 

He  caught  her  hand  in  his  and  drew  her  to  him. 

"  Don't  be  foolish,  Frances.  You  know  you  will  al- 
ways love  me.  I  will  make  you.  And  even  if  you  don't 
you  will  be  as  happy  with  me, — without  love, — as  with 
anyone." 

"  Under  ordinary  circumstances  I  would,  but  not 
with  your  mother  against  me." 

"  She  doesn't  know  you,  dear ;  and  her  only  cause  for 
not  loving'  you  is  that  you " 

"  Jilted  her  brother,"  said  Frances  for  him. 

"  So  don't,"  added  Robert,  "  make  the  matter  worse 
by  rejecting  her  son."  She  would  soon  learn  to  love 
you.  Anyone  would  who  knows  you." 

"They  don't,  though,"  said  Frances.  "A  lot  of 
them  dislike  me." 

"  But  only  because  you  are  so  pretty, — just  jealous 
women.  It  is  the  price  you  must  pay  for  outshining 
them." 

Frances  laughed.  "  It  is  more  than  that,  though. 
I  can't  love  people  who  aren't  nice  to  me.  I  don't  take 
kindly  to  cold  shoulders.  I  wish  I  were  meeker,  but,  as 
I  am  not,  I  must  take  my  disposition  into  account." 

"  They  shan't  cold-shoulder  you,  dear.  We  will 
cold-shoulder  them." 

"  We  can't,  and  be  happy.  I  have  one  unpleasant 
sister-in-law,  Dr.  Kingston,  and  I  know  what  it  means. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  229 

Knowing  my  own  fickleness,  I  will  never  marry  you  and 
separate  you  from  your  people.  I  will  never  marry  you 
without  your  mother's  consent." 

"  Promise  me  then,  that  you  will  wait  and  marry  me 
with  it." 

Sadly  she  shook  her  head :  "  By  that  time,  Robert," 
she  told  him  mournfully,  "  I  shall  no  doubt  have  ceased 
to  love  you.  I  have  loved  you  two  months  already." 

"  Well,  what  of  it  ? "  He  spoke  impatiently, 
"  Didn't  you  say  you  expect  to  be  happy  without  love  ? 
If  you  don't  think  I  am  as  good  as  other  men,  why  do 
you  love  me  ?  " 

"  I  think  you  are  better  than  others.  I  think  you 
are  perfect.  I  have  looked  hard  for  even  the  tiniest 
flaw  and  found  none.  But  you  can't  be  as  perfect  as 
I  think  you,  for  you  are  human.  Love  is  blind,  and  you 
must  have  some  fault  that  I  can't  see.  So  until  your 
mother  consents, — or  the  glamour  is  gone  from  my 
eyes, — I  must  be  free." 

He  looked  at  her,  with  despairing  love  in  his  eyes, — 
and  a  little  anger,  too, — at  her  unreasonableness. 

"  And  in  the  meantime,  Frances  ?  " 

"  In  the  meantime  ?  Why,  nothing.  We  can  be 
friends,  I  hope ;  and  I  will  be  only  too  glad  to  help  you 
with  The  Greenwoods.  But  if  I  change, — if  I  marry 
some  other  man  (I'm  likely  to  do  it),  you  mustn't  feel 
hurt.  And  if  you  marry  some  other  woman," — she  drew 
a  long,  deep  sigh, — "  I  suppose  I  will  grieve  for  you 
till  my  dying*  day ;  but  I  won't  blame  you,  Robert." 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

WITH  a  woe-begone  face,  The  Greenwoods  sat  in  the 
Pullman  stateroom,  feeling  as  if  earth  and  heaven  had 
toppled  about  her  ears ;  for  she  was  going  back  to  Way- 
ville!  She  had  prayed  and  had  faith,  had  done  her 
part,  but  God  had  failed.  The  Bible  was  false,  God 
had  vanished  from  the  universe,  and  The  Greenwoods 
was  an  infidel.  She  was  going  back  to  Wayville. 

From  an  exalted  being, — with  illimitable  resources 
and  sublime  connections, — she  had  become  a  friendless 
poverty-stricken  orphan,  dependent  upon  the  charity  of 
strangers,  only  a  puny  atom  in  a  world  of  chance ! 

The  verities  of  her  life, — God  and  the  angels, — had 
been  eliminated,  and  the  only  reality  left  was  earth, 
with  its  ever-changing  environment.  All  was  lost. 
Now  that  the  glory  had  departed,  she  realized  that 
what  she  had  thought  to  be  beauty,  power,  friends,  and 
joy, — all  that  had  kept  her  glad  when  others  were  care- 
worn,— was  the  presence  of  God  in  the  world. 

A  sad  Greenwoods  seemed  so  incredible, — even  in 
leaving  Miss  Faunce, — that  Robert  gazed  at  her  in  as- 
tonishment, but  asked  with  tenderness :  "  What's  the 
matter,  little  girl  ?  "  , 

"  God  is  dead,"  said  Woody,  and  the  tears  ran  down 
her  cheeks. 

He  had  never  been  so  surprised  before  at  anything 
she  had  said.  To  him  God  was  a  possible  explanation 
of  the  origin  of  matter;  a  subject,  perhaps,  for  a  scien- 

230 


"THE   GREENWOODS"  231 

tific  treatise  or  a  theological  argument,  but  of  no  per- 
sonal significance. 

"  I  don't  understand,  my  dear.  Surely  you  can't  be 
crying  over  God !  " 

"  What  else  is  there,  Dr.  Kingston?  " 

"  Why — er — I  am  here,  precious,  if  you  want  any- 
thing." 

"  And  what  are  you?  " 

He  was  a  conceited  man  (as  men  sometimes  are),  but 
now  he  promptly  shrank  to  his  proper  dimensions. 

"  And  there's  Miss  Faunce,  you  know." 

"  She's  nothing  either, — to  me.  If  God  didn't  give 
her  to  me,  we  wasn't  adopteds.  She  was  just  a  new  girl 
what  went  to  the  convent,  like  the  Mother  Superior  said, 
and  I  was  mistaken.  France  never  was  my  mother." 

"  But  we  love  you  just  the  same,  darling,  so " 

"  You  don't  love  me  the  best !  You  hadn't  ought  to. 
You've  both  got  your  fam'lies,  and  I'm  just  a  pesky 
orphan  girl  what  bothers  folks.  I  bother  everybody 
'cept  God.  He  was  my  folks, — Him  and  the  angels. 
And  now  they're  dead." 

Because, — owing  to  his  own  lack  of  conviction, — he 
was  unable  to  contradict  her,  he  took  her  in  his  arms 
and  kissed  her,  while  a  tear  fell  that  did  not  come  from 
Woody's  eyes. 

"  I  thought  you  were  my  little  free  and  independent 
orphan,"  he  said;  and  hated  himself  for  saying  it. 
Hadn't  he  tried  to  shatter  her  faith? 

"  How  can  I  be  free  and  independent,  without  God 
to  help  me,  Dr.  Kingston, — a  little  red-headed  girl  like 
me?  What's  the  fun  without  God?  For, — don't  you 
see? — if  He  is  dead,  they  all  are:  Mamma,  Papa,  and 
Steppie !  And  there  are  no  angels  to  tell  me  dreams  at 


"THE  GREENWOODS" 

night,  and  no  heaven,  where  they  are  waiting  in  the  lit- 
tle home  for  me." 

"  Why,  Woody !  "  he  said.  And  even  to  himself  the 
remark  sounded  painfully  inadequate.  He  longed  for 
some  good  Christian  woman  to  help  him  comfort  the 
child  for  the  loss  of  her  Deity;  but  since  none  was  at 
hand, — and  comfort  was  sorely  needed, — he  resolved  to 
reach  out  beyond  his  own  unbelief  to  bring  God  back 
to  Woody. 

"  He  was  the  best  friend  I  ever  had,"  she  sobbed, 
"  And  I  loved  Him  and  nothing  mattered, — only  Him. 
And  just  because  I  loved  Him  and  was  so  little  and  an 
orphan,  and  He  was  so  big  anil  sweet,  He  was  always 
on  my  side.  Now  He's  dead !  " 

It  was  no  abstraction  for  which  Woody  grieved. 
What  she  had  lost  was  the  friend  of  the  friendless,  the 
refuge  of  the  homeless,  the  hope  of  the  despairing. 

"  Tell  me  about  it,  Greenwoods.  Why  do  you  think 
He  is  dead?" 

"  Because  I'm  a-going  back  to  Wayville." 

"  Is  that  so  dreadful  that  it  has  made  you  lose  your 
faith  in  God?  Were  you  so  unhappy  there?  " 

"  I  wasn't  unhappy  anywhere  when  God  was  living." 

"  But  why  has  going  back  to  Wayville  made  you  be- 
lieve Him  dead  ?  " 

"  Because  He  said,  if  you  have  faith  as  a  grain  of 
mustard  seed,  your  prayers  will  be  answered.  And  I 
prayed  to  stay  with  France,  and  had  more  faith  than 
a  bushel  of  old  mustard  seed,  and  here  I  am  a-going 
back  to  Wayville !  " 

Her  tears  were  dry,  and  within  her  righteous  indig- 
nation was  rampant.  She  left  Robert's  embrace  and 
took  the  seat  facing  him.  God  might  be  dead,  but  she 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  233 

was  going  to  have  it  out  with  somebody.  The  young 
man  was  relieved  at  the  change,  and  brought  the  logic 
of  common  sense  to  bear  upon  the  situation. 

"  How  could  God  have  helped  it,  Woody,  unless  He 
had  taken  my  life,  or  have  made  me  break  my  promise?  " 

"  In  some  nice  way,  Dr.  Kingston.  He  needn't  'a  had 
a  volcano  unless  He  wanted  to." 

"  A  volcano  ?  "  He  was  puzzled,  for  he  had  never 
heard  of  that  volcano. 

Her  righteous  indignation  was  tempered  with  a  feel- 
ing of  guilt.  She  looked  up  contritely. 

"  I  didn't  know  all  those  folks  was  dead.  I  thought 
they  was  enjoying  theirselves, — and — thought  it  would 
be  nice  for  you  to  be  down  there  having  a  good  time 
with  'em.  The  middle  of  the  earth  must  be  mighty  en- 
tertaining !  And  I  was  a-going  to  dig  you  up  the  very 
minute  I  was  of  age !  " 

He  gave  her  a  long  straight  look  of  reproach  that  al- 
most made  her  forget  her  grievance  against  the  Infinite. 

"  Did  you  pray  for  a  volcano  to  get  me,  Woody  ?  " 

"  Not  to  hurt  you,  Dr.  Kingston !  Just  to  keep  you 
there  nice  and  safe !  You  see,  I  thought  you'd  be  good 
as  new  when  you  got  out,  and  I  figured  you'd  enjoy 
the  experience." 

"You  figured  wrong.  I  wouldn't!  I  see  where  the 
trouble  is  now,  Woody.  Nothing  is  wrong  with  God; 
the  fault's  with  you.  God  loves  me,  if  you  don't ;  and 
He  may  not  think  a  volcano  conducive  to  my  welfare. 
You  spoke  of  the  mustard  seed  a  few  minutes  since,  but 
you  must  remember  that  it  was  Christ  who  made  that 
promise  about  faith  moving  mountains;  and  He  was  a 
gentleman,  and  certainly  didn't  expect  any  of  those 
mountains  to  be  thrown  at  a  little  man  like  me ! " 


234.  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Well,  you  needn't  get  so  hot  about  it !  I  never  had 
no  volcano.  France  wouldn't  hear  of  it !  " 

He  was  immediately  appeased. 

"  She  said  volcanoes  are  so  unkind  and  perhaps  there 
are  gentler  ways  of  bringing  us  together ;  so  for  me  to 
go  on  praying  and  leave  the  particulars  to  God." 

"  That's  the  idea,  Woody.  You  just  go  on  praying. 
You  gave  up  too  soon." 

"  Not  much  too  soon.  If  I  hadn't  stopped  just  when 
I  did  and  sent  you  to  Chicago,  the  volcano  would  'a  got 
you  sure!  My  prayers  had  warmed  things  up,  and  the 
peaked-looking  one  was  about  ready  to  go  off." 

"  You  sent  me  to  Chicago  ?  Nonsense !  I  went  be- 
cause— Didn't  Miss  Faunce  say  she  wanted  me  to  go?  " 

He  stared  at  The  Greenwoods  forebodingly.  He  had 
had  misgivings  about  that  Chicago  trip,  but  the  full 
extent  of  its  absurdity  had  never  dawned  upon  him. 
Even  now  it  was  not  dawning  but  was  bursting  forth 
into  the  full  light  of  day.  Miss  Faunce  had  been  wait- 
ing to  crown  him  with  the  garland  of  her  love,  and  he 
— had  run  away,  to  keep  a  volcano  from  getting  him! 

"  I  didn't  ask  her.  That  was  no  time  for  talking. 
If  I  saved  you,  I  had  to  save  you  quick.  And  if 
France  hadn't  a-been  praying  hard  herself  for  you  I 
might  not  have  succeeded."  He  groaned,  "  She  said  she 
didn't  want  a  volcano  to  get  you,  so  I  just  hustled  you 
off." 

Words  failed  him  in  the  face  of  this  revelation. 

He  recalled  his  interview  with  Frances ;  the  hesitancy 
in  her  manner,  the  sudden  blush, — because  she  had  been 
praying  for  him, — the  quickly  assumed  hauteur,  which 
he  who  loved  her  knew  was  but  a  cloak  for  her  genuine 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  235 

humility;  and,  above  all,  the  hurt  look  in  her  eyes  that 
had  pained  him,  even  in  his  own  disappointment. 

The  gift  he  had  most  longed  for  had  been  within 
his  reach;  and  he  had  run  away, — to  keep  a  volcano 
from  getting  him ! 

Of  course  he  had  intended  going  to  Chicago  all  the 
time.  There  was  some  comfort  in  that;  but  he  had 
not  meant  to  go  just  then,  nor  to  decamp  so  hurriedly; 
especially,  not  when  the  woman  he  loved, — the  only  one 
he  ever  could  love, — was  ready  to  brave  all  for  love  of 
him. 

He  studied  The  Greenwoods  respectfully.  She 
looked  so  weak,  and  was  so  potent ;  had  handled  her 
big  guardian  with  so  much  skill  and  ease.  He  had 
often  laughed  at  her  pretensions,  but  he  did  not  laugh 
now.  He  remembered  his  mother's  sneer :  "  Either  all 
the  forces  of  nature  are  working  for  her,  or  she  is 
the  deepest  little  schemer  I've  ever  known." 

The  former  hypothesis  was  more  gratifying  to 
Robert's  pride.  But  what  force  was  working  through 
The  Greenwoods  that  she  walked  through  life  so  royally, 
accepting  the  best  of  all  things  as  her  rightful  portion  ? 
By  what  agency  were  all  hearts  opened  unto  her?  By 
what  authority  did  she  bid  young  men, — of,  at  least, 
average  intelligence, — to  go  hence, — to  keep  a  volcano 
from  getting  them? 

"  I  needn't  have  worried,  though,"  she  sighed,  "  for 
there  couldn't  have  been  any  miracle, — there  isn't  any 
God." 

That  was  the  answer.  God !  Woody  was  just  a  little 
happy-go-lucky  child,  but  God  had  been  working 
through  her,  because  she  had  faith  in  Him. 

"  And  now  God's  dead,"  she  mourned. 


236  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  God  can't  die,  Woody."  Robert  spoke  with  convic- 
tion, for  through  her  he  had  seen  God.  "  You  musn't 
lose  faith  just  because  you  haven't  got  something  you 
want." 

"  But  if  He  raised  France  up  especially  for  me,  Dr. 
Kingston,  why  can't  He  arrange  for  me  to  live  with 
her?  There  must  be  some  way  besides  volcanoes?  " 

Robert  knew  another  way,  but  it  seemed  dark  and 
hopeless;  yet, — from  his  mortal  view-point, — it  was 
not  God  that  had  made  it  dark  but  Woody. 

"  There  is  another  way,  dear ;  and  if  you  stop  talk- 
ing so  much,  perhaps  God  will  give  her  to  you  some- 
time." 

"  Time's  nothing  to  Him,  Dr.  Kingston.  And  if 
I'm  ever  a-going  to  have  a  mother,  I  want  her  now, 
— not  when  I'm  gray-headed." 

"  Time  is  nothing  to  Him,  but  people  are ;  and  He 
doesn't  want  me  buried  alive,  or  foresworn.  Now  He 
had  arranged  a  gentle,  kindly  plan,  and  was  just  on 
the  point  of  consummating  it — when  your  volcano  in- 
terfered. The  prayer  of  faith,  it  seems,  is  powerful, 
so  your  miracle  clashed  with  the  other  one.  He  would 
not  have  sent  the  volcano, — but  because  your  prayer 
was  wicked  you  are  being  sent  back  to  Wayville." 

"I  don't  care;  just  so  He  is  living." 

She  knew  that  if  God  were  only  living,  all  would  come 
right  in  the  end,  so  her  soul  was  untroubled.  For  the 
first  time  since  entering  the  car  she  looked  out  of  the 
window  to  note  the  scenery.  It  all  seemed  beautiful. 
Now  that  God  had  been  found  again, — life  was  once 
more  a  joyful  privilege. 

Robert  was  reflecting, — on  the  influence  that  The 
Greenwoods'  prayer  for  a  young  and  pretty  mother 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  237 

had  had  on  his  life  and  Frances'.  He  thought  he  saw 
God's  plan,  but  he  was  puzzled  about  The  Greenwoods' 
part  in  it.  The  power  working  through  the  child 
seemed  to  be  trying  to  unite  his  fortunes  with  Miss 
Faunce's,  but  Woody  her  little  self  seemed  to  be  a 
marplot. 

"  I'm  sleepy,"  she  said  presently.  "  I  haven't  slept 
a  wink  since  I  left  Wayville." 

"  Is  it  possible?  "  he  asked  in  amused  concern. 

"  No,  it  wasn't  possible.  France  talked  all  night. 
Guess  what  she  woke  me  up  in  the  very  middle  of  last 
night  to  ask  ?  " 

He  was  discreetly  silent. 

"  She  wanted  to  know  which  is  the  prettier,  the  widow 
or  Miss  Ardelia  Wile!  Now,  did  you  ever?  " 


CHAPTER  XXX 

THE  GREENWOODS  went  on  praying, — per  request, — 
but  as  Robert  saw  it,  her  works  offset  any  good  her 
faith  might  have  accomplished.  She  continued  to  do 
those  things  which  she  should  not  have  done;  and  Mrs. 
Kingston  blamed  Miss  Faunce's  influence. 

School  opened,  and  The  Greenwoods  began  to  be  kept 
in.  She  accepted  her  numerous  detentions  philosophi- 
cally, but  Marie  tattled;  while  Mrs.  Kingston  apolo- 
gized,— publicly  and  continuously, — for  the  child's  past 
training. 

The  young  guardian  tried  hard  to  ignore  his  ward's 
delinquencies,  but  they  were  brought  to  his  attention 
abroad  as  well  as  at  home.  Other  mothers, — besides 
Mrs.  Kingston, — were  jealous  of  The  Greenwoods' 
charm,  and  had  suffered  from  the  rights  of  orphans. 
Among  the  younger  set  in  Wayville,  parents  had  gone 
out  of  style.  Naturally,  the  parents  objected. 

Remembering  Frances'  advice, — given  on  their  first 
meeting, — Robert  decided  to  meet  Woody  half-way, 
give  her  a  few  hints,  and  leave  it  to  her  sweet  reason- 
ableness and  willingness  to  do  what  was  right. 

He  had  little  confidence  in  the  method,  but  Frances 
had  sanctioned  it ;  so  he  would  give  it  a  trial.  Besides, 
a  young  man  is  always  at  a  disadvantage  in  his  deal- 
ings with  a  little  girl,  and  he  was  willing  to  get  on  with 
his  ward  any  way  he, — conscientiously, — could. 

Marie  returned  from  school  one  day  with  the  tears  in 
her  eyes  and  reported  that  her  brother  and  herself 

238 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  239 

had    been   publicly   insulted.      Mrs.    Kingston    investi- 
gated, and  the  following  essay  was  produced: 

"GROWN  FOLKS" 

"  There  are  many  kinds  of  Grown  Folks,  but  no  kind  is  any 
use.  Some  are  old  and  some  are  not.  Some  have  hair  and  some 
have  not  or  teeth.  Some  are  men  and  some  are  not.  They 
never  have  no  fun  for  they  never  do  anything  but  talk  whitch 
will  get  you  into  trouble  every  time.  It  is  bad  enough  for  a 
little  girl  to  talk  all  the  time  who  is  not  old  enuff  to  have  lernt 
not  to.  But  it  is  worse  for  Grown  Folks  to  talk  all  the  time  for 
they  are  old  enuff  to  have  lernt  not  to. 

"If  I  could  find  a  Happy  Land  when  I  am  awake  where  the 
foot  of  grown  Folks  never  trod  I  would  go  there  and  live  forever 
with  the  Happy  Children. 

"  Once  upon  a  time  a  little  girl  had  a  cruel  guardian.  Him 
and  the  teachers  tried  to  make  her  be  good  but  she  was  top  polite. 
So  she  ran  away  and  went  to  the  Happy  Children's  Kingdom. 
This  is  an  inside  Kingdom  where  she  is  Queen.  Sometimes  it  is 
in  a  gorgous  forest.  Sometimes  in  other  places.  That  day  it 
was  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea. 

"Gaily  she  rode  the  bounding  billers  upon  a  large  white  swan. 
A  golden  crown  was  on  her  head  and  also  its.  As  it  swam  the 
swan  sang  sweetly.  The  Happy  Children  were  with  her  and 
they  had  Fun. 

Suddenly  a  ship  appeered.  Upon  its  prow  stood  the  cruel 
guardian.  His  little  sister  held  him  by  the  hand.  O  let  U3  join 
the  Happy  Children  they  cried.  Suddenly  the  little  girl  ap- 
peered. You  cannot  come  she  said.  For  you  are  too  good. 
And  in  this  Kingdom  you  have  .to  be  polite.  They  wept 
bitterly." 

The  Kingstons  read  the  essay  with  varied  emotions. 
"  It  is  a  story  too,  for  I  never  even  saw  the  Happy 
Children,"  sobbed  Marie,  "  never  in  all  my  life !  " 

Robert  seized  the  opportunity  it  offered  of  having  a 
friendly  and  confidential  chat  with  the  young  writer. 

"  Why,"  he  asked,  "  couldn't  that  little  girl  have  been 
good  and  polite  too  ?  " 

"  Because  a  polite  child  will  speak  when  she  is  spoken 
to,"  was  the  ready  response,  gained  from  a  sad  experi- 


240  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

ence ;  "  and  the  teachers  will  keep  her  in  for  it,  because 
it  is  not  good." 

"  But  it  isn't  polite  to  disturb  the  order  of  the 
school,  dear.  And " 

"  Papa  told  me  always  to  speak  when  I  was  spoken 
to." 

"  But  circumstances  alter  cases,  Woody ;  and  until 


"  They  alter  the  goodness,  but  not  the  politeness, 
Dr.  Kingston.  Is  it  polite  to  help  a  person  out  of 
trouble  or  is  it  good?  " 

The  Greenwoods  seldom  dodged  the  issue,  but  Rob- 
ert was  wary. 

"  That  depends  upon  circumstances.     How " 

"  The  goodness  does,  but  never  the  politeness. 
Prompting  for  instance.  I'm  never  stingy  with  my 
facts  and  those  in  sound  of  my  whisper  are  welcome 
to  all  I  know.  Is " 

"  But  how  will  it  help  them  to  improve  if  you  tell 
them  their  lessons?  Unless  they  learn  the  lessons, 
school  will  not  be  an  advantage  to  them." 

It  won't  be  an  advantage  anyway.  I  don't  believe 
in  school.  School  is  a  fake!  The  books  are  wrong, 
the  teachers  are  cross-eyed,  and  the  rules  are  impolite. 
Let  me  stop." 

"  Not  until  you  are  graduated,  my  child ;  so  stop 
arguing,  and  study." 

"  But  it  is  such  an  awful  waste  of  time.  Did  you 
ever  study  'rithmetic  ?  " 

"  Don't  be  silly,  Greenwoods.     Of " 

"  Not  for  worlds !  But  do  you  remember  that  fool 
sum  about  the  frog?  It  fell  into  a  well,  and  every  time 


it  climbed  up  two  feet  it  slipped  back  one.  How  many 
days  did  it  take  it  to  get  out?  " 

He  looked  rather  dazed. 

"  How  deep  was  the  well,  and  how  -  " 

"  I  disremember,  but  it  makes  no  difference  at  all, 
Dr.  Kingston.  That  frog  never  did  get  out!  In  the 
first  place,  all  the  wells  I  ever  saw  (which  is  consider- 
able) are  too  slick  for  any  frog  to  climb;  in  the 
second  place,  the  frog  most  likely  broke  its  neck  when 
it  tumbled;  in  the  third  place,  it  starved  to  death,  and 
in  the  fourth,  it  drownded.  Now,  I've  studied  that 
sum  hard,  Dr.  Kingston,  and  there  never  was  a  chance 
for  the  frog.  Fifthly  a  bucket  would  have  smashed  it  ; 
sixthly,  what  did  it  rest  on  at  night,  when  it  was  about 
a  week  from  the  bottom  and  a  month  from  the  top? 
And  seventhly  and  lastly,  how  could  any  mere  frog 
fall  so  even  and  climb  so  even,  with  never  an  inch  to 
spare  and  nothing  to  carry?  " 

"  I  admit  that  it  is  a  pretty  big  frog  story,  Green- 
woods," laughed  Robert  ;  "  but  arithmetic  is  not  the 
science  of  frogs  but  of  numbers  ;  and  if  -  " 

"  But  if  it's  stories  about  frogs,  how  can  we  believe 
it  about  numbers  ?  " 

"  The  rules  for  proving  the  numbers  are  given.    And 


"  You  can't  prove  it  any  way  except  the  book's  way. 
Try  it  mine,  and  it  will  come  out  wrong  every  time." 

So  far  he  had  gained  nothing  by  his  advance. 
Woody  had  not  met  him  half-way,  and  by  refusing  to 
accept  a  self-evident  fact,  had  proved  that  she  could 
not  be  reasoned  with.  He  frowned.  "  Nevertheless  two 
and  two  are  four." 

"  How  you  know,  Dr.  Kingston.     I've  got  a  feeling 


242  "THE    GREENWOODS" 

that  it  makes  thirty-seven.  I  asked  Miss  Jones  to  try 
it  a  few  days,  and  see  if  the  sums  wouldn't  turn  out 
better." 

"  And  what  did  Miss  Jones  say  ?  " 

"  She  said  for  me  to  remain  after  school." 

"  That  was  the  wisest  thing  she  could  have  said, 
Greenwoods.  Miss  Jones  is  a  capable  woman.  I  am 
beginning  to  entertain  a  high  regard  for  her." 

"  For  Miss  Jones !  "  The  Greenwoods  was  aghast 
before  this  unsuspected  possibility.  Miss  Jones,  in- 
deed !  Good  Heavens ! 

"  Yes,"  continued  Robert  blindly,  "  and  you  should 
consider  her  too.  You  say  you  always  try  to  be  polite, 
but  is  it  treating  her  politely  to  force  her  to  remain 
after  school  with  you  ?  " 

For  once  she  had  nothing  to  say,  and  he  felt  that 
at  last  he  was  making  an  impression;  but  little  did  he 
know  what  the  impression  was. 

"  You  must  think  of  the  teacher  as  well  as  the  pupils, 
my  dear.  The  rules  are  made  for  the  good  of  all,  as 
you  will  understand  when  you  are  older;  so  by  keeping 
them  yourself  you  make  life  easier  for  all.  So  will  you 
try  to  be  a  good  little  girl  in  the  future  as  well  as  a 
polite  one?  " 

"  Yes  sir,"  promised  The  Greenwoods. 

And  thoroughly  confounded  by  this  new  develop- 
ment, she  sadly  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

IN  asking  The  Greenwoods  to  keep  the  rules  out  of 
politeness  to  her  teacher,  Robert  fondly  believed  he 
had  solved  the  problem  of  controlling  his  little  ward; 
so  when,  the  very  next  day,  she  was  detained  again,  he 
was  chagrined. 

Yet,  after  he  had  announced  his  regard  for  Miss 
Jones,  Woody  had  heard  nothing  more. 

As  he  was  convinced  that  the  power  working 
through  Woody  was  trying  to  make  a  match  between 
Frances  and  himself,  Woody  may  have  caught  a  con- 
fused sense  of  his  idea  by  mental  telepathy.  At  any 
rate  she  continued  to  steer  his  love  affairs. 

"  It's  not  my  fault  I  was  kep'  in,  Dr.  Kingston.  I 
don't  stay  in  for  fun,  and  I'm  not  the  only  one  what's 
kep'  in  either, — only  the  others  don't  get  fits  about  it 
afterwards.  The  trouble  is  that  you  are  so  inexpe- 
rienced that  every  old  cat  in  town  is  trying  to  help  you 
raise  me !  " 

"  Greenwoods,"  he  spoke  with  dignity,  "  please  re- 
member  " 

"  I'm  not  likely  to  forget  it,  Dr.  Kingston.  But 
these  cross-eyed  teachers  keep  me  in  as  quick  when 
I'm  good  and  know  my  lessons  as  when  they  think  I'm 
bad  and  miss  'em.  To-day  it  was  for  actually  obeying 
Miss  Jones ! " 

"  Don't  misstate  facts,  Greenwoods,  and  stop " 

"  Why,  that's  exactly  what  it  was  about !  Have  you 
met  Miss  Jones  since  school  ?  " 

243 


244  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

To  The  Greenwoods  collusion  had  been  proved. 
Eying  her  guardian  suspiciously,  she  continued: 

"  Them  was  her  words  exactly, — *  Don't  misstate 
facts !  Don't  say  millions  when  you  mean  hundreds ! 
Exaggeration  is  a  mild  form  of  lying,  and  lying  is  un- 
becoming to  the  daughter  of  a  soldier,  and  a  million  is 
a  lot.'  Why,  in  all  the  heavens,  Dr.  Kingston,  there's 
not  a  million  stars  visible  to  the  naked  eye, — and  most 
eyes  are  naked;  upon  a  mighty  oak  (which  from  little 
acorns  grow,  like  lying  from  fibbing)  are  not  a  million 
leaves;  you  can  circumnavigate  the  whole  circumfer- 
ence of  the  globe, — from  end  to  end, — and  not  go  a 
million  miles ;  and  you  can  place  a  million  something  or 
other  upon  the  point  of  a  needle !  It  sounded  fishy  to 
me,  but  after  what  you  told  me  about  your  regard,  I 
decided  to  follow  your  advice  and  not  argue  the  point. 
So  I  upped  immediately  and  promised  before  the  school 
never  to  say  millions  again  unless  I  positively  knew  it 
was  millions.  But  what  was  the  result?  " 

She  paused  for  a  reply,  but  Robert  was  speechless. 

"Why  in  less'n  ten  minutes  the  old  cat  asked  me 
the  population  of  the  United  States !  Now  could  I  be 
positive  it  was  millions  when  I'd  never  counted  'em 
myself  and  the  books  are  wrong  half  the  time?  Could 
I  break  my  promise  ?  No !  So  I  said  hundreds, — and 
the  old  ape  kep'  me  in  for  it !  " 

"  Please  speak  of  your  teacher  more  respectfully, 
Greenwoods ! " 

"  Excuse  'em,  Dr.  Kingston,  I  forgot  about  your 
regard.  I  admire  Miss  Jones  as  much  as  you  do, 
— in  some  ways, — but  she  is  hard  to  please.  And  if 
you  went  to  school  to  her  like  me,  you  wouldn't  be  so 
much  in  love.  She's " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  245 

His  feet  had  been  upon  a  chair  before  him,  but 
he  brought  them  to  the  floor  with  an  angry  thud. 

"  I  am  not  in  love  with  Miss  Jones,  Woody !  " 

"Yessir,  Dr.  Kingston.  There,  there!  It's  all 
right.  I'm  glad  you're  not!  She  is  an  awful  piece  to 
get  along  with,  and  I  don't  blame  you  for  hating  her 
like  poison." 

"  I  don't  hate  her  like  poison !  "  He  was  indignant. 
"  Now  get  this  thing  straight !  " 

"  With  pleasure,  and  I  beg  your  pardon.  But  what 
must  I  believe?  You  say  you  have  a  high  regard " 

"  Exactly.  I  know  Miss  Jones  very  slightly,  but  I 
esteem  her  as  an  excellent  woman.  Now  this  is  to  go  no 
further!  Do  you  understand?  " 

And  the  rest  of  his  lecture  forgotten,  he  angrily  sent 
The  Greenwoods  from  the  room. 

In  her  perplexity,  The  Greenwoods  wrote  to 
Frances. 

MY  OWN  DARLING  FRANCES  : 

It  looks  like  the  jig  is  up  now,  and  I  diskovered  it  all  by 
muself  because  he  is  so  touchy  about  her.  It  is  Miss  Jones. 
I  like  all  his  others  best.  Miss  Ardelia  is  so  linguistick  and 
Harriet  and  I  could  have  had  a  grand  time  together  even  if  the 
Widow  is  cross-eyed.  But  a  school-teacher  and  a  guardian 
married  together  is  too  much. 

Very  truly 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

P.  S.  The  acquaintance  is  but  slight,  and  he  told  me  not 
to  let  this  information  go  no  further.  So  please  don't  mention 
it.  I'd  hate  for  it  to  get  out  through  me.  Maybe  he  will 
change  his  mind. 

THBG. 

It  did  get  out,  though,  and  created  a  sensation. 
Then  The  Greenwoods  wrote  another  letter. 


246  "THE    GREENWOODS" 

DEAR  FRANCE: 

Thank  goodness  it  is  not  so.  I  wrote  you  wrong.  They  are 
all  cut  up  about  it.  Mrs.  Kingston  has  gone  to  bed,  and  they 
blame  me.  They  say  you  would  have  been  better  than  Miss 
Jones. 

I  tried  to  get  it  straight,  Francie;  but  why  did  he  say  he 
had  a  regard  and  even  an  esteem  and  on  slight  acquaintance? 
And  why  did  he  meet  her  after  school?  And  why  did  he  want 
it  kept  a  secret?  It  looks  plum  mysterious. 

Still  he  is  surely  not  going  to  marry  her.  He  needs  a  wife 
but  you  bet  it  won't  be  her.  Or  the  Widow  for  he  barked  at 
her  last  summer.  Or  Edith  for  I  made  him  quit.  So  there  is 
no  one  left  but  Miss  Ardelia.  They  are  boyhood  friends  and 
both  have  money  and  Pilgrim  fathers  and  the  families  are 
pleased.  Anyone  will  suit  me  who  will  rescue  me  from  these 
nervous  Kingstons.  They  give  me  more  trouble  than  any  family 
I  have  ever  lived  with  since  I  left  St.  Louis. 

Affectionately 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

And  while  Frances  was  remembering  that  she  had 
left  Robert  free  to  marry,  he  was  wondering  what  she 
thought  of  Woody's  latest  move. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

"  THEY  keep  me  in  as  quick  when  I  am  good  and 
know  my  lessons  as  when  they  think  I  am  bad  and  miss 
'em,"  The  Greenwoods  had  said,  and,  like  most  of  her 
incredible  statements,  this  one  had  a  basis  of  truth. 
For  when  she  knew  her  lessons  she  insisted  on  reciting 
them  from  start  to  finish,  and  when  she  did  not,  her 
ignorance  was  the  most  obvious  thing  in  the  room. 
Besides,  as  school  tradition  is  opposed  to  reciting  out 
of  time,  she  was  never  good  when  she  knew  her  lessons. 
Staying  in  was  inevitable. 

The  Greenwoods  in  school  was  like  the  square  peg  in 
the  round  hole. 

She  liked  history,  because  it  dealt  with  war, — which 
is  a  soldier's  business, — while  her  father's  having  been 
a  soldier  made  it  a  family  affair, — like  heaven.  So, 
when  she  came  to  the  description  of  Washington  cross- 
ing the  Delaware  a  responsive  chord  was  struck. 
Skimming  the  reading  matter,  she  carefully  examined 
the  picture  and,  with  the  fragment  of  truth  thus  ac- 
quired, her  imagination  gave  a  preliminary  flap  and 
soared. 

"  Poor  old  George  Washington !  I  bet  he  got  good 
and  cold!  He  don't  show  it,  though.  See  how  heroic 
he  stands, — not  even  shivering!  He  was  most  as  brave 
as  papa.  But  he  should  be  wrapped  up  better." 

She  scrutinized  the  illustration,  with  maternal  solici- 
tude. 

"  Maybe  he  had  hot  bricks.  Of  course !  General 
247 


248  "THE   GREENWOODS" 

Washington  had  too  much  sense  to  start  on  a  trip  like 
that  without  'ern.  Still — even  hot  bricks  wouldn't 
a-kep'  his  nose  warm.  A  nose  that  size  would  a-froze 
for  sure.  What  a  shame, — and  him  so  handsome !  He 
ought  to  'a  had  a  nose  protector.  It  might  'a  spoilt 
the  picture,  but  it  would  'a  saved  his  nose.  No  wonder 
the  Yankees  whipped!  Anybody  could  'a  whipped  a 
cripple.  I  shall  tell  Marie  so  next  time  she  gets  to 
bragging ! 

"  Still, — if  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy  had 
got  these  nose  protectors, — the  accident  never  would 
'a  happened !  If  they'd  done  their  duty,  instead  of  run- 
ning around  the  country  a-going  to  Suffragette  meet- 
ings the  war  would  have  ended  differently.  Mother 
Burns  says  it's  perfectly  scandalous !  " 

Her  thoughts  came  nearer  home. 

"  I  almost  hate  Marie ;  she  brags  so  and  tells  so  and 
cries  so.  What'll  become  of  me  this  winter,  anyhow? 
It's  time  that  gentle  miracle  was  a-happening!  I'd  as 
soon  have  my  nose  froze  as  stay  in  the  house  with  the 
missus.  The  glowering,  smiling  hypocrite!  She's  an 
inhospitable  lady  and  I'm  tired  visiting  her.  AH  the 
mothers  in  this  town  have  it  in  for  me.  Jealous,  I 
s'pose,  'cause  I'm  an  orphan  and  their  kids  ain't. 

"  I'm  glad  my  mamma's  not  a  meat  woman ;  angel 
ladies  are  so  much  sweeter.  Still,  meat  ladies  can  be 
sweet,  for  France  is.  France  isn't  helping  me  now 
though,  and  I'm  wondering  where  I  shall  play  this  win- 
ter. It's  getting  colder  and  colder  outdoors  and  in- 
hospitabler  and  inhospitabler  in  the  house.  Ere  long 
The  Four  Oaks  will  be  froze  clean  through,  the  ground 
will  be  frost-bit,  and  the  swing,  slippery  with  ice.  I 
can't  play  out  there,  and  inside  Mrs.  Kingston  will 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  249 

act  the  hypocrite  when  there  is  company,  and  frown 
when  there  is  not. 

"  Well,  well!  The  Lord  will  provide,  so  why  worry? 
And  I  know  this  lesson,  too,  and  am  ready  to  recite  it. 
They  never  will  get  through  with  that  old  grammar 
and  I'd  like  to  get  this  history  off  my  mind  Oh, 
what's  the  use  in  procrastinating?  I'll  recite  it  now!  " 

Yet  that  very  afternoon  The  Greenwoods  was  de- 
tained for  missing  that  very  lesson;  but  when  she 
reached  home  her  anxiety  as  to  where  she  was  to  spend 
the  winter  was  allayed.  It  was  in  a  closet! 

A  well-lighted  and  ventilated  one  that  was  fur- 
nished with  a  straightback  chair,  a  table  and  writing 
materials, — but  a  closet  it  was  for  all  that !  When  the 
"  lab."  had  been  a  residence  that  closet  might  have 
been  a  bath-room. 

As  has  been  said  before,  something  just  had  to  be 
done  with  Woody,  and  as  it  was  impossible  for  Rob- 
ert to  get  in  his  side  of  the  argument  edgewise,  reason- 
ing had  been  impossible, — lecturing  a  farce.  She  knew 
all  the  lectures  by  heart.  Hence  the  closet. 

"  Walk  in,  Greenwoods,  and  be  seated,"  said  Dr. 
Kingston.  "  You  may  remain  here  and  make  up  some 
of  the  time  you  wasted  in  school  to-day." 

"  I  didn't  waste  a  minute.  I  studied  my  head  most 
off.  But  never  again !  " 

"  You  may  write  the  first  lesson  in  your  gram- 
mar  " 

"  I  wasn't  kep'  in  for  missing  grammar !  I  never 
missed  nothing.  The  trouble  was  over  history.  To 
hear  Miss  Jones  tell  it  you'd  think  Washington 
crossed  the  Delaware  on  the  Fourth  Day  of  July !  She's 
prejudiced  against  him  because  he  was  a  Confederate!  " 


250  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

A  weaker  than  Robert  might  have  wavered  at  that 
and  have  set  her  to  writing  history,  but  his  will  was 
adamant.  He  stuck  to  grammar. 

"  We  wont  argue  the  point  now,  but " 

"  And  you  are  perfectly  right,  too !  I  told  Miss 
Jones  so  and  asked  her  just  to  put  it  to  a  vote  before 
the  school, — to  let  the  majority  decide  whether  it  was 
froze  off  or  not,  but '  Stubbornness  '  is  her  name.  Why, 
Washington  was  in  Washington  on  the  Fourth  a- 
writing  the  Declaration  of  Independence ! " 

Even  that  failed  to  turn  him. 

"  You  are  backward  in  your  grammar " 

"  Somebody's  been  a-storying  about  me  again !  I'm 
fine  in  it!  Just  gim'me  out  a  word  and  let  me  parse 
it!" 

"  Write  it  instead.    And  be  sure  to  have " 

"  No  use  learning  it  now,  Dr.  Kingston.  You  can't 
recite  grammar  before  the  proper  time.  Teachers  are 
so  cranky !  I  can  study  it  to-morrow." 

"  Have  it  ready  when  I  get  back." 

"  But  this  isn't  to-morrow's  lesson !  " 

"  You  are  to  begin  at  the  first  page,  and  every  time 
you  are  detained  you  are  to  write  another  lesson.  I 
hope  in  time  that  you  will  improve  in  both  your  En- 
glish and  in  your  deportment:" 

"  He  felt  a  thrill  of  triumph,  for  this  was  one  of  the 
few  speeches  he  had  ever  got  in  whole. 

"  Of  all  cross-eyed  shames !  Surely  you  are  not  a- 
going  to  lock  me  up  because  I  have  to  stay  in,  Dr. 
Kingston  ?  I  don't  stay  in  for  fun !  " 

"  Yes,  every  time ;  but  if  you  play  less,  study  more, 
and  obey  your  teachers, — instead  of  arguing  with 
them, — you  will  not  be  detained  so  often.  The  trouble 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  251 

is  that  you  think  you  know  more  than  your  elders,  but 
you  are  only  a  little  girl 

"  I'm  an  orphan,  though ;  and  have  had  lots  of  ex- 
perience." 

"  That  erroneous  idea  of  orphans  is  the  secret  of 
all  your  folly,  Greenwoods ;  and  it  is  turning  people 
against  you.  It  is  a  sad  thing  to  be  an  orphan,  and 


"  Yes,  Dr.  Kingston,  but  God  makes  up  to  us  for  it 
by  giving  us  our  independence." 

"  No,  Woody,  you  are  not  independent.  You  are 
dependent  on  me.  You  must  obey  me,  or  I  will  pun- 
ish you, — but  I  don't  want  to.  So  won't  you  waive 
those  imaginary  rights  of  yours,  and  obey  me  through 
principle  or  friendship.  Can't  we  be  friends  ?  "  He 
held  out  his  hand  entreatingly,  for  he  was  humilated  at 
his  failure  to  win  either  her  love  or  her  respect. 

The  Greenwoods  spoke  regretfully. 

"  I'm  sorry,  Dr.  Kingston,  but  we  can't.  We  are 
enemies,  you  see." 

"  Then  you  don't  love  me?  " 

"  Oh,  but  yes.  The  Bible  specially  says  that  we  must 
love  our  enemies.  What  it  means,  you  know,  is  guard- 
ians and  teachers.  Love  'em,  even  when  you  put  'em 
down." 

"  Well  then,  I  will  use  force,  since  you  desire  it.    And 


"  But  I  don't.  Great-granddaddy !  All  I  want  is 
to  keep  my  independence!  Why,  it  makes  me  feel  like 
the  pitiful  kind  just  to  hear  you  talk!  And  you 
needn't  feel  hurt.  I  obey  you  just  lots  of  times, — on 
the  sly." 

Frances  would  have  known  what  to  do,  but  Robert, 


252  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

being  a  man,  was  unfit  to  handle  the  situation.  To  him 
it  seemed  that  some  one  had  to  surrender,  and  he  was 
resolved  not  to  be  that  one.  He  answered  coldly,  as  he 
prepared  to  leave: 

"  Unless  your  task  is  finished  when  I  return,  I  will 
punish  you  more  severely." 

"  But,  Dr.  Kingston," — she  was  alarmed,  and  he  was 
correspondingly  gratified, — "  I — er — hope  your  inten- 
tions are  not — er — ungentlemanly.  Pardon  me  for 
even  mentioning  the  possibility;  but  I've  been  a-telling 
Marie  all  this  time  that  you  was  a  gentleman." 

A  little  fun  germ  alighted  on  the  corner  of  his  lip, 
and  he  held  his  face  straight  with  difficulty. 

"  What  did  Marie  say  ?  "    He  was  turning  the  knob. 

"  She  advised  me  not  to  rely  on  it." 

He  opened  the  door. 

"  Then  heed  her  warning." 

"  Oh,  wait  a  minute,  Dr.  Kingston." 

Hoping  that  she  had  come  to  terms,  Robert 
obeyed. 

"  Have  you  thought  that  you  and  Marie  are  sisters, 
and  you  and  me  no  kin  and  that  lots  of  things  are 
propriety  between  you'uns  that  would  be  impro- 
prietous  between  us?  " 

"  I  shall  be  judge  of  the  propriety."  He  answered 
her  sternly,  but  the  fun  germs  had  him  in  their  grip. 

"  And  how  will  you  feel  afterwards  about  it,  if  you 
and  me  get  married? 

He  slammed  the  door,  locked  it  securely,  and  beat  a 
hasty  retreat.  She  gazed  after  him  disconsolately. 

"  And  to  think  I  saved  his  life !  " 

Turning  to  the  task  set  her,  she  dipped  her  pen  into 
the  ink  and  addressed  this  apostrophe  to  the  ceiling : 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  253 

"  And  this  is  what  I  get  for  it.  Grammar  now,  and 
next, — the  Lord  knows  what !  " 

The  Greenwoods  wondered  if  he  were  in  earnest, 
decided  that  he  was,  and  for  three  minutes  wrote  busily. 

"  Well,  the  Lord  provided  all  right.  But  if  He,  in 
His  infinite  wisdom,  couldn't  find, — in  a  house  this  big, 
— any  better  place  than  this  for  a  little  orphan  to 
spend  the  winter,  it's  a  slam  on  the  Kingstons !  " 

Two  lines  more  she  wrote  and  was  lost  in  thought. 

"  After  all,  this  is  not  so  bad.  Why,  that  enchanted 
maiden  what  was  locked  up  by  the  old  witch  and  let 
her  hair  out  the  window  wasn't  in  it  with  me.  This 
certainly  is  romantic !  Me  and  her's  just  exactly  alike, 
'cept  my  hair's  too  short.  Walter  can  be  my  lover,  and 
I  can  borrow  a  switch  from  Miss  Ardelia  to  throw  out 
the  window  to  him.  Oh,  that  grammar !  What  a  hate- 
ful word  '  switch  '  is  for  *  hair  ' !  " 

When  Robert  returned  the  task  was  finished.  He 
examined  it  sadly,  but  after  all  it  was  not  much  worse 
than  he  had  anticipated. 

"  You  must  take   more   pains    with   your   writing, 
Woody." 

"  I  was  in  a  hurry.    You  scared  me  to  death !  " 

"  And  you've  left  out  all  the  punctuation  marks." 

"  You  surely  didn't  want  me  to  put  in  those  dirty 
little  things !  Why,  they  spoil  the  looks  of  the  page." 

"  Put  them  in,  just  the  same,  and " 

"  Commas  ?  Oh,  not  commas,  Dr.  Kingston !  I'll 
put  in  the  periods,  for  periods  help  you  to  find  the 
sense,  but  if  you'd  just  begin  all  your  sentences  with 
capitals  you  wouldn't  even  need  the  periods." 

"  I  insist  upon  all  the  punctuation  marks,  and " 

"  All  right,  if  you've  a  fancy  for  'em.     But,  say, — 


254  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

are  you  trying  to  starve  me  clean  to  death?  I  haven't 
had  no  lunch !  " 

He  had  forgotten  the  lunch,  but  concealed  his  embar- 
rassment. 

"  Then,  you  may  run  and  get  something  now.  In  the 
future  I  shall  have  a  glass  of  milk  and  a  slice  of  bread 
out  here  for  you,  and  if  you  are  only  detained  occa- 
sionally, I  will  add  an  apple." 


CHAPTER   XXXIII 

WHILE  refusing  to  change  her  views,  The  Green- 
woods did  try  to  amend  her  ways  but  continued,  never- 
theless, to  gravitate  between  the  school-room  and  the 
closet  with  a  monotonous  regularity.  Naturally,  she 
objected,  and  for  a  wonder,  Mrs.  Kingston  did  too. 

Mrs.  Kingston  had  formed  good  intentions  in  regard 
to  loving  The  Greenwoods,  and  the  Greenwoods, — as  a 
rule, — was  friendly  with  anyone  with  whom  she  was 
thrown,  but  the  natures  of  the  two  were  antipathic, 
Mrs.  Kingston  tried  to  treat  The  Greenwoods  kindly, 
because  the  child  was  an  orphan  and  a  dependent  of 
the  family;  The  Greenwoods  tried  to  tolerate  Mrs. 
Kingston,  because  the  latter  was  old  and  nervous,  and 
her  hostess,  as  well — but  each  thoroughly  disapproved 
of  the  other. 

Since  both  meant  well,  overtures  of  friendship  were 
repeatedly  being  made, — and  accepted, — after  which 
the  tension  was  gradually  renewed,  until  the  breaking 
point  was  reached,  when  all  was  done  over  again.  The 
Greenwoods,  regretfully  forced  to  decide  that  her  host- 
ess was  an  undesirable  acquaintance,  avoided  her  as 
sedulously  as  was  consistent  with  the  duties  of  a  guest ; 
while  Mrs.  Kingston,  seeing  that  she  was  avoided,  con- 
cluded that  The  Greenwoods  was  ungrateful  and  in- 
corrigible, and  told  the  public  about  it  in  self-defense. 

Feeling  guilty,  and  wishing  to  palliate  her  own  treat- 
255 


256  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

ment  of  the  orphan,  she  tried  to  open  every  one's  eyes 
to  the  child's  enormities,  and,  in  Robert's  case,  had  suc- 
ceeded. Yet  when  the  "  grammar  room  "  had  gone  into 
operation  she  was  alarmed. 

She  had  prejudiced  public  opinion  against  The 
Greenwoods  (among  the  elders),  but  was  afraid  it  would 
rebound  if  Robert  were  too  severe. 

There  was  less  danger  of  this  in  the  present  case 
than  she  suspected,  for  the  parents  of  Wayville  felt 
that,  at  any  hazard,  the  free  and  independent  orphan 
should  be  made  to  recant  her  treasonable  doctrine. 
Not  knowing  this,  Mrs.  Kingston  expostulated  with 
Robert,  but  in  vain.  He  was  not  easily  turned. 

Not  only  was  Mrs.  Kingston  afraid  of  public  opin- 
ion, but  she  was  apprehensive  of  trouble  between  her 
boys;  for  Chester  and  Walter  were  indignant  at  Bob's 
treatment  of  their  little  favorite.  Hence,  since  Rob- 
ert refused  to  remit  his  sentence,  Mrs.  Kingston 
humbled  herself  to  plead  with  Woody.  Would  she 
please  be  good? 

"  But  I  can't,  Mrs.  Kingston.  I  am  free  and  in- 
dependent." 

"  Still,  even  if  you  are  independent,  Sylvia,"  Mrs. 
Kingston  said  gently,  "  you  can  be  friends  with  Rob- 
ert. Children  are  usually  so  fond  of  him.  Marie  and 
Walter  love  him  dearly." 

"  Of  course,  Mrs.  Kingston.  He's  their  brother;  but 
he's  no  kin  to  me !  " 

In  trying  to  save  the  family  affection  for  Marie, 
Mrs.  Kingston  had  been  blind  to  the  orphan's  posi- 
tion in  her  house.  Mrs.  Kingston, — through  loyalty  to 
Marie,  whose  supremacy  was  threatened, — had  tried  to 
keep  her  children  from  loving  The  Greenwoods,  but 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  257 

had  only  succeeded  in  keeping  her  from  loving  them. 
The  mother  now  realized  that,  discipline  having  failed, 
the  child  might  have  been  ruled  through  love. 

"  Robert  is  no  kin,  dear,  but  a  guardian  is  almost  the 
same  as  a  relative." 

How  devoid  the  child  was  of  earthly  ties!  Mrs. 
Kingston  felt  ashamed. 

"  You  wouldn't  think  so,  if  you'd  had  as  many  as 
me,  Mrs.  Kingston.  Guardians  are  so  ephemeralistic !  " 

Woody  spoke  in  her  best  society  manner,  and,  in 
the  face  of  her  airs,  Mrs.  Kingston's  compassion  faded. 
It  was  difficult  to  be  sorry  for  one  who  seemed  so  little 
in  need  of  sympathy.  Still,  the  lady  tried  again! 

"  But  won't  you  be  good  for  my  sake,  Sylvia.  I  want 
to  be  your  friend;  but  how  can  I  while  you  hold  this 
false  idea  of  independence?  " 

"  Why,  you  have  been  quite  friendly  enough,  I  am 
sure,  Mrs.  Kingston.  Accept  my  appreciations!  But 
how  can  I  give  up  my  independence,  when  it  is  God's 
blessing, — to  make  up  to  me  for  my  loneliness?  " 

"  But  you  won't  be  lonely,  Sylvia.  Every  one  loves 
you." 

"  Not  the  best,  though ;  and  I  can't  give  up  my  in- 
dependence for  second  best.  Second  best  doesn't  count 
for  much." 

"  But  I  will  love  you  as  my  own  child,  my  dear." 

Mrs.  Kingston's  kindly  impulse  was  checked  again 
by  Woody. 

"  But  how  can  you,  when  I'm  not  ?  "  she  asked. 

And  Mrs.  Kingston,  knowing  that  she  could  not, 
was  silent.  How  could  she  love  as  her  own  this  child 
who  was  not  her  own,  who  was  constantly  putting  her 
own  at  a  disadvantage,  and  who  seemed  to  have  no  need 


258  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

of  her  care?  If  The  Greenwoods  had  been  "  the  pitiful 
kind,"  it  might  have  been  different. 

"  I  wish  you  wouldn't  worry  about  me  so,  Mrs.  King- 
ston," added  Woody  sweetly,  "  I've  had  lots  worse 
things  happen  to  me  than  grammar.  I've  had  kisses !  " 

The  child  was  hopeless.  "  So  nothing  will  induce 
you  to  give  up?  " 

"  Oh,  yes !  I'll  give  up  for  France.  For  she's  God's 
blessing  to  me,  too.  She  is  my  raised-up  mother.  And 
a  mother  is  better  even  than  independence." 

"  Miss  Faunce  is  impossible ! "  said  Mrs.  Kingston 
hastily. 

"  Dr.  Kingston  doesn't  think  so,  nor  France  either. 
They  both  told  me  to  go  on  praying.  And  I  do." 

Mrs.  Kingston's  perturbation  was  greater  than  be- 
fore. How  was  the  situation  to  end?  Robert  might 
conquer  by  physical  masculine  strength,  and  take  away 
the  orphan's  only  blessing;  or  The  Greenwoods,  by 
physical  feminine  endurance,  might  win  license  for  her 
mischief.  But  both  alternatives  were  objectionable. 
Then,  there  was  Frances. 

Frances  would  bring  relief;  but  relief  may  be  too 
dearly  bought.  Better  anything,  even  death, — though 
not  Robert's  death, — than  that  the  Kingston  name  and 
honor  should  be  given  into  the  keeping  of  a  volatile 
coquette. 

The  subconscious  coup  which  The  Greenwoods  had 
made  with  Miss  Jones  had  not  only  kept  alive  the  For- 
esters' fears  of  losing  each  other  (always  a  powerful 
factor  in  a  love  affair)  but  it  had  informed  Mrs.  King- 
ston that  there  were  other  undesirables  besides  Frances. 
Still,  it  had  not  reconciled  her  to  Frances. 

There  was  more  work  for  Woody  to  do  before  that 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  259 

end  could  be  attained;  and  she  was  now, — subcon- 
sciously again, — offering  her  ultimatum.  Frances  or 
disorder ! 

Consciously,  however,  The  Greenwoods  never 
dreamed  that  she  was  trying, — by  most  remarkable 
methods, — to  win  Mrs.  Kingston's  consent  to  the  For- 
esters' marriage. 

Mrs.  Kingston  was  dimly  aware  of  it  though,  and 
her  heart  was  hardened.  She  had  felt  from  the  first 
that  some  power  was  working  through  the  orphan,  but 
had  thought  it  a  prematurely  developed  faculty  for 
scheming.  She  had  thought  that  the  situations  through 
which  the  orphan  walked  so  triumphantly  were  of  the 
orphan's  making,  so  had  been  prejudiced.  Entering 
her  chamber,  Mrs.  Kingston  tried  by  prayer  to  offset 
Woody's  prayer.  When  her  devotions  had  ceased  her 
decision  was  made. 

Robert  must  triumph! 

His  victory  might  sadden  the  orphan,  but  the  child 
must  give  up  her  independence  and  learn  humility.  She 
would  not  be  unkindly  treated ;  she  had  found  an  asylum 
in  the  bosom  of  wealth  and  distinction,  so  let  her  under- 
stand who  her  benefactors  were, — and  be  grateful. 

Henceforth  Mrs.  Kingston  prayed  nightly  that 
Robert  might  subdue  the  orphan, — and  marry  Ardelia 
Wile. 

And  Mrs.  Kingston's  faith  and  Mrs.  Kingston's 
works  went  hand  in  hand. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

DESPITE  the  romantic  nature  of  the  closet,  The 
Greenwoods  had  not  yet  become  acclimated  to  it.  So, 
her  most  ingenious  schemes  having  failed  to  circum- 
vent it,  she  sought  relief  of  her  chief  enemy,  Miss 
Jones. 

"  Can't  you  do  something  besides  keep  in,  Miss 
Jones?"  she  asked,  after  having  explained  the  situ- 
ation ;  "  like  sitting  on  the  front  row,  or  standing  up,  or 
writing  lines,  or  suchlike  things  what  are  disagreeable, 
but  not  everlasting?  Marie  will  tattle,  of  course,  but 
if  I  just  walk  in  the  door  when  she  does  they  won't 
have  fits." 

Keeping-in  having  failed  as  a  reformatory  measure, 
Miss  Jones  promised  to  try  other  tactics. 

"And  will  you  stop  talking  in  school,  Sylvia?" 

"  I'll  do  my  best,  Miss  Jones,  but  I  was  born  talking, 
— almost.  I've  often  heard  it  said  that  I  began  at 
three  weeks.  That  is  young  to  start,  for  most  babies 
don't  begin  before  a  month !  So  it  must  be  natural  for 
me  to  talk.  But  I'll  try  to  quit.  If  I  had  my  way,  I'd 
never  speak  another  word!  It  gets  you  into  trouble 
every  time."  She  leaned  over  confidentially.  "  But 
the  truth  is  7  never  do  talk!  It  just  talks  itself,  while 
I  sit  there  a-listening  to  it  come  out  in  perfect  amaze- 
ment, and  a-wondering  what  is  coming  next.  It's  the 
scariest  feeling  that  you  ever  saw !  " 

The  other  teachers,  however,  were  not  bound  by  Miss 
260 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  261 

Jones'  agreement, — they  developed  a  marvelous  activ- 
ity in  keeping  in;  while  Miss  Jones  herself  seemed  to 
live  in  dread  of  Woody's  getting  the  better  of  the  ar- 
rangement. Hence  the  child  was  hectored  unmercifully 
during  school  hours,  detained  afterward,  and  locked  up 
on  reaching  home. 

Mrs.  Kingston's  hostility  had  increased,  while  Marie 
regarded  The  Greenwoods  as  her  own  private  compan- 
ion, and  resented  her  friendships  with  other  children. 

"  Well,  God  knows  best,"  sighed  Woody,  "  Maybe  He 
wants  me  to  learn  how  to  be  happy  in  spite  of  school, 
the  Kingstons,  and  the  closet,  and  is  saving  Francie  to 
reward  me  when  I  learn.  But,  just  to  my  human  un- 
derstanding, it  looks  like  I  need  her  more  now  than  I 
will  then.  But  of  course  He  knows.  Anyway,  it's  bet- 
ter to  be  happy, — even  in  a  closet, — than  in  a  closet 
and  unhappy  too.  So,  here  goes." 

And  that  indomitable  something  in  The  Greenwoods, 
which  expressed  itself  in  smiles  and  laughter,  and  which 
seemed  to  require  happiness  for  its  existence,  cast 
about  to  find  it  in  the  closet. 

Success  had  not  yet  been  achieved,  so  The  Green- 
woods was  depressed,  and  her  little  mates,  indignant. 
What  fun  was  it  to  play  without  this  festive  young 
creature,  who  was  to  a  game  what  wine  is  to  a  feast? 
Even  Marie,  growing  lonesome,  stopped  tattling,  and 
began  instead  to  make  ineffectual  excuses  for  her  kept-in 
friend. 

"  I  hate  Miss  Jones !  She  is  meaner  to  The  Green- 
woods than  to  any  girl  in  school,"  Harriet  remarked 
one  day  on  the  way  home.  The  one  under  discussion 
was  with  them,  but  was  feeling  strangely  dejected. 

"  The  teachers  are  picking  at  Woody  from  morning 


262  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

till  night,"  added  Pearl  vindicticely ;  "  and  Miss  Jones 
is  the  worst !  " 

Miss  Jones  did  harbor  a  grudge  against  The  Green- 
woods. Of  a  shrinking  nature,  she  had  for  thirty-eight 
summers  blushed  unseen;  then,  without  a  moment's 
warning,  she  had  been  advertised  as  the  prospective 
bride  of  a  prominent  young  millionaire.  She  had 
blushed  then  for  all  the  world  to  see  and  clutched  at 
privacy  with  agony.  Yet  all  was  not  in  vain.  For 
while  the  limelight  shone  upon  her  she  was  found  by 
her  affinity.  He  had  been  seeking  her  for  years  (at  in- 
tervals,— for  he  was  twice  a  widower),  and  though  he 
had  known  her  all  her  life,  he  had  never  suspected  her 
of  being  his  soul-mate  until  her  name  had  been  con- 
nected with  another's.  When  the  wedding  bells  rang, 
The  Greenwoods  was  forgiven;  but  that  time  had  not 
yet  come.  Miss  Jones  was  still  a  follower  of  Diana's, 
and  Cupid's  agent  was  held  in  slight  esteem. 

"  Never  mind,  Woody,"  spoke  Marie  comfortingly. 
"  Brother  Rob  won't  lock  you  up  to-day.  The  way  the 
teachers  treat  you  is  a  reflection  on  our  family,  and  I'll 
tell  him  about  it,  and  he'll  make  them  stop." 

"  You  needn't  bother  yourself,  Marie.  Me  and  Miss 
Jones  can  manage  our  own  business,  without  any  of 
your  assistance !  " 

The  free  and  independent  orphan  had  not  relished 
the  compassion  lavished  upon  her.  She  was  not  the 
"  pitiful  kind  "  yet,  and  she  wanted  the  fact  known. 
Then,  too,  she  was  not  acting  in  harmony  with  her  own 
ideals.  Scorning  the  ethics  of  the  school-room,  she  was 
secretly  trying  to  conform  to  them ;  while  every  suc- 
cess made  her  despise  herself  as  a  hypocrite,  and  every 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  263 

failure  landed  her  in  the  closet.  The  subject  of  her 
wrongs  was  not  one  she  cared  to  hear  discussed. 

"  If  it  hadn't  been  for  you  and  your  mamma,"  she 
continued,  with  some  heat,  "  Dr.  Kingston  wouldn't 
have  noticed  my  staying  in, — and  the  closet  wouldn't 
have  happened !  You  make  me  sick !  " 

This  unexpected  insult,  in  return  for  her  kindly  prof- 
fer, brought  the  tears  to  Marie's  eyes  and  sundry, 
"  Why  Woody's !  "  to  the  lips  of  her  associates.  Sym- 
pathy veered  to  Marie,  who  accepted  it  gratefully. 

The  Greenwoods,  who  had  been  longing  for  a  home 
beyond  the  skies,  felt  more  cheerful.  She  made  a  face 
in  answer  to  Marie's  sobs,  and  her  misery  was  still  fur- 
ther lightened.  She  would  show  them  how  to  pity  her ! 

"  Brother  Bob  told  you  not  to  make  faces,"  moaned 
Marie,  "  and  I  will  tell !  " 

"  You  bet,  you  will !  If  you  wasn't  telling  or  cry- 
ing, you  would  bust !  " 

The  bystanders  giggled  and  Marie's  grief  grew 
louder.  "  I  haven't  told  in  a  long — t-time,"  she  sobbed ; 
"  and  I  won't  now — if  you'll  be  g-good — to  me !  " 

At  little  spoilt  selfish  Marie's  turning  the  other 
cheek,  the  giggling  ceased.  Every  one  waited  for 
Woody  to  bestow  the  well-deserved  commendation.  She 
made  a  face  instead. 

"  He  locks  me  up  anyway, — without  your  telling, — 
whenever  he  gets  his  hands  on  me;  so  what's  the  use?  " 
asked  Woody. 

"  Stop  making  faces  at  me !  "  Marie  cried. 

"  I'll  make  all  I  please,  missy,  for  I've  got  the  blues 
and  I  need  cheering  up.  So  I'm  just  a-going  to  relieve 
myself  of  my  opinion  of  you  and  all  your  kin,  you  low- 
down,  youngest  child  of  a  cross-eyed  gang !  And  you'd 


264  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

better  stay  here  and  take  it,  or  I'll  call  you  worser 
names  to  your  swayed,  old,  freckled  back !  " 

Still  more  relieved  of  her  melancholy,  the  speaker, 
with  no  cessation  of  her  vituperation,  distorted  her 
countenance  and  stuck  out  her  tongue.  Marie  might 
have  been  called  "  worser  names  "  had  she  retreated, 
but  the  listeners  doubted  it.  . 

"  Don't  stand  it,  Marie,"  Harriet  urged  in  the  in- 
terests of  fair  play,  "  Call  her  others  just  as  good,  and 
make  the  faces  back  again !  " 

"  I  can't,"  sobbed  Marie,  "  Mamma  says  it  will  make 
me  ugly !  "  So  meekly  she  writhed  beneath  the  flames 
of  The  Greenwoods'  invective. 

The  children  in  front  came  running  back,  those  be- 
hind hastened  forward,  and  they  gathered  round  to 
watch  the  sport.  The  boys  cheered  and  the  girls  ex- 
claimed, while  The  Greenwoods  turned  her  undivided 
attention  to  Marie's  family, — past,  present  and  to 
come.  Her  gloom  had  vanished  and,  heedless  of  conse- 
quences, she  was  enjoying  herself  thoroughly  when  one 
of  the  teachers  on  the  way  home  caught  the  child 
roughly  by  the  arm  and,  with  a  vigorous  shake,  brought 
the  scene  to  an  end. 

Then  both  Marie  the  tearful  and  Woody  the  defiant 
were  conducted  home;  the  former  being  given  crumbs 
of  comfort  as  they  walked,  the  latter,  an  occasional 
pinch.  And  while  the  weeper  sobbed,  the  shameless  one 
twiddled  her  fingers  behind  her  back,  to  show  her  mates 
that  her  soul  was  still  unconquered. 

Safe  in  the  drawing-room,  the  teacher,  while  waiting 
for  the  mother  and  brother  of  the  victim,  imprudently 
loosened  her  clutch  upon  the  aggressor, — it  was  to 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  265 

dry  Marie's  ever-growing  volume  of  tears,  —  when  The 
Greenwoods,  like  the  Arab,  silently  stole  away. 

Out  of  the  back  door  she  scudded,  —  aided  and  abetted 
by  every  servant  on  the  place,  —  over  the  back  fence  she 
flew;  and,  chuckling  in  wicked  glee,  made  a  hasty  semi- 
circuit  of  the  block  and  caught  up  with  the  other  chil- 
dren who  were  busily  speculating  on  the  fate  that  was 
overtaking  her  at  that  moment.  Yet,  there  she  stood 
before  them,  waving  her  arms  and  pirouetting  gaily,  — 
an  unrepentant,  irrepressible,  triumphant  little  imp  of 


"  Now,"  she  shouted,  waves  of  enthusiasm  vibrating 
from  her  lively  young  frame,  "  we  are  a-going  to  play 
*  Follow  your  leader,'  and  I  am  it  !  Come  on  !  Come  on 
quick!  Whoever  keeps  up  with  me  this  day  will  be  a 
daisy  !  " 

Without  a  dissenting  voice,  they  followed.  Even 
Marie,  —  very  unreasonably,  —  was  hurt  when  she  heard 
of  it  at  not  having  been  invited  to  join.  At  the  first 
turning  The  Greenwoods  gave  this  order: 

"  Holler,  kids  !    Holler  loud  !  " 

Another  block  was  passed  when  there  came  another 
order  : 

"  Throw  down  your  school  books,  chilluns,  and  tram- 
ple on  'em  !  " 

And  she  set  the  example. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

As  the  children  of  Hamelin  followed  the  Pied  Piper 
so  did  those  of  Wayville  The  Greenwoods.  And  while 
the  mothers  of  Wayville  were  waiting  they  telephoned 
Mrs.  Kingston  to  ask  what  had  become  of  their  little 
ones. 

One  frantic  parent  inquired  if  Mary  Ellen  had  worn 
her  coat,  while  another  hoped  that  little  Johnnie 
wouldn't  take  his  death  of  cold.  Rumors  were  rife  of 
pillage  and  devastation,  and  again  the  mothers  in  a 
steady  stream  wanted  Mrs.  Kingston  to  tell  them  who 
was  to  pay  for  the  damage, — themselves  or  her  son 
Robert.  Then,  as  the  hour  grew  late,  the  mothers  rang 
again,  and  asked  Mrs.  Kingston  when  The  Greenwoods 
intended  to  bring  their  children  back.  As  Mrs.  King- 
ston saw  it,  she  was  supposed  to  be  in  league  with 
Woody  in  the  kidnapping. 

Daylight  faded,  and  the  truants,  by  ones  and  twos, 
sneaked  home.  The  Greenwoods  was  left  alone.  Her 
naughtiness  had  worn  itself  out;  her  joy  had  vanished. 
The  time  had  come  for  froward  little  girls  to  go  home 
and  be  punished  or  forgiven.  Having  no  home  of  her 
own,  she  must  needs  seek  the  one  where  lived  the  people 
she  had  slandered.  She  must  return,  eat  of  their  bread, 
and  accept  their  kindness  or  their  reproach, — she,  the 
little  alien,  who  had  called  them  names ! 

Standing  at  the  gate,  she  looked  fearfully  in.  The 
hour  of  repentance  was  at  hand,  and  she  was  intimi- 
dated by  her  conscience.  Strange  shapes  haunted  the 

266 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  267 

premises;  the  house  seemed  huge  and  threatening;  the 
awnings  frowned;  on  the  trees  the  dead  leaves  shivered, 
while  the  limbs  moving  to  and  fro  seemed  to  be  shaking 
their  fingers  at  her ;  flickering  shadows  trembled  on  the 
lawn,  and  she  gazed  at  them  in  terror,  for  the  very 
ground  on  which  the  Kingstons  walked  was  making 
faces  at  her ! 

Walter  saw  her  standing  there, — a  lonely,  penitent 
little  figure, — and  hurried  to  her  side.  She  guiltily  re- 
treated. Was  he  coming  to  upbraid  her?  She  need 
not  have  feared;  the  boy  ran  after  her  and  took  her 
hand. 

"  Greenwoods,"  he  said,  "  you're  a  peach !  " 

"  Aren't  you  angry  with  me,  Walter  ?  "  Her  voice 
quivered,  for  his  generosity  had  melted  her  heart. 

"  With  you,  Woody?     Why,  I  love  you!  " 

She  threw  her  arms  around  his  neck  and  kissed  him. 
She,  who  dodged  kisses  as  she  would  a  pest. 

"  Walter, — I'm  sorry — I  was  bad !  " 

"  Bad  nothing,  sweet !  You're  the  greatest  kid  on 
earth !  "  And  he  returned  that  kiss  and  put  his  arms 
around  her.  All  summer  he  had  wooed  her,  and  all  the 
fall ;  but  she  had  evaded  his  pursuit,  running  away,  with 
a  smile  dropped  over  her  shoulder.  Now  his  hour  had 
come,  and  she  was  his  to  cherish  and  protect.  "  What 
a  trick  you  played  that  teacher,  darling !  They're  still 
wondering  how  you  got  away." 

"  Are  their  feelings  hurt  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  about  their  feelings,  but  they're  hop- 
ping mad.  O  Woody,  you've  mixed  this  town  up  by 
your  little  self  as  it  never  was  before !  " 

"  Have  you  heard  the  dreadful  names  I  called  your 
people,  Walter?  I'm  awfully  sorry.  Little  girls 


268  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

shouldn't  call  folks  names,  or  make  faces  at  'em.  It's 
not  polite.  I  just  said  it  'cause  I  had  the  blues!  I'll 
eat  dirt  at  the  table,  though,  to  show  I'm  sorry." 

"  No,  you  won't.  And  you  were  right  in  what  you 
said.  They've  every  one  been  mean  to  you.  I'm  glad 
you  said  it !  " 

"  Oh,  Walter,  they  haven't  been  mean !  They've 
been  lovely  to  me.  I  just  was  in  the  dumps !  But  I 
never  said  they  was  mean.  I  only  said — several 
things." 

Tears  were  running  down  her  cheeks,  so  he  kissed 
her  again  and,  his  arms  being  still  around  her,  gave  her 
a  comforting  pat  upon  the  back. 

"  I'll  tell  you  the  worst,  Walter ;  and  you  can  hate 
me.  I  said — boohoo — that  Marie,  and  all  her  cross- 
eyed kin — were  bugs, — Yankee  bugs — boohoo — with 
donkey  heads — what  squealed !  I  take  it  back,  though. 
I  never  meant  it !  " 

Even  at  that  tragic  moment, — when  the  brickbat  was 
in  his  pocket  and  his  eye  was  on  the  door, — Walter 
laughed.  "  How  did  you  ever  think  of  such  a  funny 
thing?  You  cunning  darling!" 

"I  didn't  think  of  it;  I  just  said  it!  I'd  'a  been 
quiet  if  I'd  thought.  O  Walter,  you're  so  chivalrous 
and  magnanamitous !  " 

His  chest  swelled  with  pride.  "  I  licked  three  boys 
to-day  for  wanting  to  marry  you,  too,"  he  boasted, 
"  You  won't  marry  'em, — will  you,  sweetheart  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  rashly  promised,  "  I  won't  never  marry 
anybody  you  don't  want  me  to.  You  are  a  friend  what 
counts !  " 

He  kissed  her  rapturously.  "  O  you  angel !  You 
are  not  an  angel,  though.  You're  too  jolly  for  an  an- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  269 

gel;  too  good  for  a  human;  too  sweet  for  a  boy;  too 
game  for  a  girl ;  and  too  pretty  for  anything ! " 

The  door  opened,  and  Robert  emerged.  To  the  chil- 
dren's excited  fancy  he  loomed  large  and  terrible 
through  the  darkness.  Looking  searchingly  about,  he 
advanced  in  their  direction.  The  Greenwoods  clung 
nervously  to  Walter,  who  clasped  her  protectingly  to 
his  side — and  got  out  his  brickbat. 

"  What  you  got?  "  she  whispered. 

"  Never  mind,  sweetheart."  He  had  been  practicing 
that  tender  word  for  months.  "  But  don't  be  afraid, — 
I'll  fix  him !  " 

"  I  don't  want  him  fixed!  I'm  just  a  little  girl,  and 
little  girls  are  always  getting  them — and  I  was  bad,  you 
know." 

"  He  sha'n't  beat  you !    I'll  kill  him  first !  " 

"  I'd  rather  he  would,  please."  And  catching  Wal- 
ter's hand,  she  loosened  his  hold  on  the  brickbat,  and 
it  dropped  to  the  ground.  Her  little  hand  was  so 
powerful  in  its  frail  tenderness  that  he  was  helpless. 
Not  for  all  the  world  could  he  have  thrust  that  tiny 
hand  aside.  Then  she  said  rapidly :  "  Even  if  you  kill 
him  I'd  catch  it  anyhow.  There's  always  somebody  to 
give  'em  to  naughty  children.  Besides,  if  they  were  all 
as  sweet  as  you  about  this,  I'd  die  of  shame.  Do  you 
think  I'd  ever  be  able  to  look  'em  in  the  face, — after  all 
I'd  said, — unless  something  like  this  evened  up  ?  " 

While  she  was  speaking  Robert  joined  them,  and  his 
accents  were  crisp  and  sharp.  "  Greenwoods,  you  may 
come  to  the  *  lab.'  with  me !  " 

"  Wait  a  minute,  Bob " 

"  Go  to  the  house,  Walter,  and  don't  interfere  in  my 
affairs!" 


270  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  But  she's  sorry,  Bob,  and " 

"  Come,  Greenwoods !  " 

The  boy's  arm  tightened  about  her  waist.  "  Please, 
Bob?  She's  sorry  for  what  she  did,  and  you  sha'n't 
hurt  her !  " 

Walter  was  crying,  and  the  caress  Woody  gave  him 
only  made  him  cry  the  louder.  He  was  willing  to  go  to 
any  length  of  recklessness  to  save  her  or  to  any  depth 
of  humiliation;  but  her  courage  was  as  great  as  his. 
Slipping  from  his  detaining  arm,  she  called  out  in  a 
cheery  voice, — a  voice  that  made  his  fears  seem  foolish : 

"  Why,  who  minds  lickings,  Walter  ?  I've  got  thou- 
sands of  'em  and  they  don't  even  hurt !  " 

Then,  instead  of  meekly  following,  she  led  the  way. 

Once  more  she  had  saved  her  guardian's  life,  and 
once  more  he  failed  to  thank  her.  Still,  she  felt  kindlier 
toward  him  and  more  forgiving  of  herself.  She  had 
abused  the  rights  of  hospitality;  but,  now, — having 
saved  one  member  of  the  family  from  death  and  one 
from  crime, — the  heavy  score  against  her  conscience 
was  lessened. 

However,  as  she  reached  the  scene  of  expiation,  she 
faltered;  but  like  an  echo  eame  Walter's  tribute: 
"  You're  too  jolly  for  an  angel ;  too  good  for  a  human ; 
too  sweet  for  a  boy ;  too  game  for  a  girl ;  and  too  pretty 
for  anything !  " 

With  words  like  those  in  her  heart,  a  true  woman  will 
face  the  scaffold  with  a  smile. 

Walter  waited.  At  length  she  came,  sobbing  and 
alone.  No  longer  a  heroine,  but  just  a  motherless 
child  in  need  of  comfort.  And  he  was  there  to  give  it 
her.  Reverence  and  devotion  burnt  like  a  white  flame 


"THE  GREENWOODS" 

in  his  breast.  He  took  her  in  his  arms,  and  she  wept 
upon  his  shoulder. 

"  There,  there,  darling !  I'll  get  even  with  him  for 
this, — when  I'm  grown !  " 

"  I'm  so  ashamed !  " 

"  He's  the  One  to  be  ashamed !  To  give  a  darling 
little  girl  like  you  a  whipping !  " 

"  He — he  gave  me  two !  " 

Walter's  reply  was  unquotable. 

"  Just  because — after  he'd  finished — with  the  first 
one — I  called  him  an  ungentlemanly,  dirty  cur !  " 

An  element  of  mirth  entered  into  Walter's  fury. 

"  Oh,  sweetheart !  That  was  not  the  time  to  tell 
him  so." 

"  I  know  it — now,"  she  sobbed.  And  the  boy 
smiled  as  he  kissed  her.  No  matter  what  the  circum- 
stances, the  fun  germs  were  always  present. 

"  And — and — he  made  me  say  I  was  sorry !  " 

"  I  was  a  fool  not  to  kill  him !  " 

"  Your  own  brother?" 

"  I  don't  care !  I  love  your  little  finger  more  than 
him, — more  than  all  the  rest  put  together.  Why, 
Woody,  if  I  had  to  choose  between  you  and  the  whole 
wide  world,  I'd  put  the  world  upon  a  chip,  send  it  sail- 
ing down  the  river,  take  you,  and  go  on  singing." 

"  I'm  so  glad !  A  person  wants  some  one  to  love  her 
best  at  a  time  like  this.  A  person  feels  so  measly !  " 

"  Greenwoods !  Didn't  I  tell  you  to  go  to  bed  ? 
Must  I  whip  you  again?  " 

Before  Walter's  eyes  his  true  love  was  being  ruth- 
lessly shaken.  "  No,  sir,"  said  a  meek  young  voice. 
"  Please,  sir,  I'll  be  good !  " 

Then  Walter  charged.    With  feet  and  teeth  and  nails 


272  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

he  attacked  his  brother,  but  he  was  only  a  boy,  so  was 
overpowered, — and  he,  too,  was  taken  to  the  "  lab." 
The  Greenwoods  rushed  to  the  house  and  gave  the 
alarm. 

Ten  minutes  later  there  was  a  knock  at  the  labo- 
ratory door.  Walter  was  stretched  out, — winded  and 
spent, — upon  the  rug,  where,  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts, 
Bob  had  repeatedly  laid  him.  He  was  still  furious, 
though,  and  was  longing  for  a  brickbat.  He  had 
missed  his  aim  with  books  but  could  have  hit  Bob  with 
a  brickbat.  He  hoped  this  was  Chester  coming.  To- 
gether they  might  kill  Bob! 

A  similar  thought  was  in  Robert's  mind, — not  that 
he  might  be  killed,  but  that  it  might  be  Chester,  and 
that,  as  Woody's  guardian,  he  would  be  forced  to 
administer  another  beating  before  bed-time.  He 
opened  the  door  with  a  frown,  and  to  his  sorrow,  saw 
his  father.  He  just  could  not  flog  his  father,  not  even 
to  keep  The  Greenwoods  straight. 

Colonel  Kingston,  however,  had  come  in  behalf  of 
Walter.  Mrs.  Kingston  had  sent  him.  Her  fears  were 
taking  concrete  form;  and  now,  she  was  wildly  wring- 
ing her  hands  because  one  of  her  sons  was  killing  the 
other.  The  Greenwoods'  version  of  Walter's  attack  had 
been  thrilling. 

Robert  stepped  outside  and  closed  the  door.  Col- 
onel Kingston  asked  anxiously:  "Where  is  Walter?" 

"  Inside,  lying  on  the  rug.  Why?  "  asked  Robert 
pleasantly. 

"  Your  mother  is  frightened.  Woody  said  he  was 
killing  you." 

"Woody  is  prejudiced.     He  was  only  trying  to." 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  273 

"Don't  be  hard  on  him,  Bob?  He  is  in  love!" 
pleaded  the  father. 

"  With  my  ward,  too.  I  won't  forget  it,"  replied  the 
guardian. 

"  Send  him  out,  and  I  will  take  him  to  the  house." 

"  We  are  not  quite  through  in  here  yet." 

"  I  won't  have  that  boy  flogged,  Bob.  Open  that 
door!" 

"But  I'm  not  flogging  him."  Bob  squared  himself 
before  the  entrance.  "  He  can  stop  fighting  whenever 
he  gets  ready ;  but  when  he  does  I  want  to  have  a  talk 
with  him, — a  talk  that  he  may  not  like  you  to  hear. 
Leave  us  to  settle  this  between  ourselves,  Father,  and 
he  and  I  will  be  friends ;  interfere,  and  we  may  be  ene- 
mies for  life." 

Colonel  Kingston  unwillingly  withdrew,  and  Robert 
called  softly  after  him :  "  Tell  mother  not  to  worry. 
I  will  bring  your  boy  back,  if  not  good  as  new,  at  least 
as  well  patched  up  as  it  can  be  done  by  any  surgeon  in 
America." 

Walter,  convinced  that  nothing  short  of  an  earth- 
quake could  knock  Bob  down,  had  left  the  rug  and  was 
sitting  in  a  chair.  He  retained  his  seat  when  Robert 
reentered,  and  the  latter  knew  the  fight  was  ended. 
He  tactfully  drew  up  another  chair  and  continued  as 
if  it  were  a  conversation  that  had  been  interrupted: 
"  Now,  Kid,  let's  see  if  we  can't  reach  an  understand- 
ing about  this  thing.  The  trouble  seems  to  be  over  the 
proper  control  of  my  ward.  I  suppose  you  will  admit 
that  I  am  res " 

"  She  doesn't  need  any  control !  " 

"You  think  children  should  be  permitted  to  do  as 
they  please?  " 


274  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  She's  different  from  others !  " 

"  You  mean  steadier,  quieter,  more  dignified  ?  " 

With  an  effort,  Woody's  champion  repressed  a  grin. 

"  She  has  more  sense." 

"  Yet  I  am  confident  that  if  allowed  her  own  way  she 
would  stop  school  to-morrow !  " 

"What  if  she  does?  She  can  educate  herself  just 
talking  to  people." 

"  Knowledge  so  gained  isn't  always  authentic,  and 
that  is  a  poor  way  to  learn  spelling." 

"  Miss  Faunce  didn't  beat  her  to  death !  " 

"  Not  exactly.  But  Miss  Faunce  is  a  firm  believer  in 
corporal  punishment."  Robert  smiled  and  then  looked 
grave.  What  would  Frances  think? 

"For  The  Greenwoods?" 

"  Even  for  that  model  child.  She  gave  her  one  her- 
self that  I  know  of."  Bob  was  trying  to  convince  him- 
self that  she  would  therefore  sanction  his  act  of  vio- 
lence. 

"  Well,  I'm  not.  Now  look  here,  Bob.  I  intend  to 
marry  Woody,  and  I  don't  want  all  the  fun  beat  out 
of  her!" 

"  Am  I  to  take  this  as  a  request  for  her  hand  ?  " 

"  You  may  take  it  for  a  fact." 

"  I  had  hoped  you  regarded  her  as  a  sister.  Has 
the  day  been  set?  " 

"  The  very  minute  I  am  old  enough."  Walter  spoke 
with  an  assurance  he  did  not  feel,  for  The  Greenwoods 
had  not  promised. 

"  Thanks  for  your  frankness,  Walter.  Still,  that 
is  several  years  off.  Hadn't  you  better  let  me  control 
her  in  the  meantime?  " 

"  I  guess  I'll  have  to.     But  you  might  treat  her 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  275 

gently.  She's  no  rough  boy!  And  just  because  she  is 
sweet  and  merry  is  no  sign  she  doesn't  have  trouble. 
Why  don't  you  try  moral  suasion  or  something  de- 
cent? " 

"  Since  it's  my  job,  Walter,  hadn't  you  better  leave 
the  method  to  me?  Moral  suasion  doesn't  seem  to 
work.  And  since  she  refuses  to  obey  me  from  love,  it 
unfortunately  places  me  under  the  necessity  of  making 
her  obey  me, — well,  just  any  way  I  can." 

Again  Walter  was  on  the  verge  of  laughter;  for  the 
humor  of  Woody's  personality  made  a  stronger  ap- 
peal than  the  pathos  of  her  position.  Even  her  name 
dissipated  thoughts  of  injustice  and  oppression.  The 
brothers  became  more  companionable. 

"  I  don't  see  how  you  can  be  so  hateful  to  her,  Bob. 
She's  the  sweetest  girl  alive.  This  afternoon  now, — I 
bet  Marie  had  been  nagging  at  her." 

"  If  Woody  had  only  told  me  so,  I  might  have  let  her 
off;  but  she  blamed  me.  She  said  I'd  made  her  be  so 
good  for  so  long  that  she  got  full  up  and  busted  wide 
open, — and  she  hoped  it  would  be  a  lesson  to  me !  " 

Walter's  gravity  was  utterly  destroyed, — until  an- 
other memory  thrust  the  laughter  down  his  throat. 

"  She  said  she'd  be  good,  Bob !  How  could  you  get 
her  into  a  state  like  that.  That's  what  made  me  fight !  " 

"  Don't  worry,  old  chap !  " — soothingly.  "  She 
didn't  mean  it.  It  is  just  an  expression  commonly 
used  under  the  circumstances." 

"  I  don't  ever  v/ant  her  to  talk  like  that  again,  Bob. 
I  want  you  to  remember  that  she's  an  orphan  and  is  up 
against  it.  So  you  let  her  stay  independent.  She  ought 
to  have  some  rights.  She  has  no  home,  no  family,  no 
money,  and  has  never  whined  once ! " 


276  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I  admit  her  good  qualities,  Walter.  She  is  sweet, 
brave  and  straightforward,  and  her  characteristics  may 
accord  with  those  of  the  angels.  But  if  she  is  going  to 
live  in  this  prosaic  old  world  there  are  a  few  things 
left  for  her  to  learn.  She  is  in  my  care  now,  and  must 
keep  my  rules !  When  she  is  old  enough,  though,  I  shall 
willingly  turn  her  over  to  you.  So  shake  hands,  old 
fellow,  and  let's  be  friends." 

Walter  complied,  and  friendship  was  restored. 
"  Now  I  want  to  speak  of  something  else.  You  say  you 
don't  regard  her  as  a  sister  ?  " 

"You  bet  I  don't!" 

"  Then," — Robert  spoke  with  unmistakable  grimness, 
— "  don't  you  ever  again  let  me  catch  you  kissing  her !  " 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

"  *  0  be  joyful  in  the  Lord,  all  ye  lands,'  "  sang  The 
Greenwoods. 

It  was  not  a  year  after  the  humiliating  experience 
last  recorded,  nor  a  month,  nor  a  week,  but  only  the 
next  morning.  She  had  retired,  ashamed  to  look  even 
Mother  Burns  in  the  face,  and  trembling  at  the  thought 
of  the  sneers  she  would  encounter  at  school  next  morn- 
ing when  Marie  told  about  that  whipping.  The  inde- 
pendent one  had  felt  so  immune! 

She  arose  from  her  bed  a  heroine  of  romance, — a 
combination  of  Mary  Stuart  and  Helen  of  Troy,  rolled 
into  one  little  red-headed  girl  over  whom  knights  had 
fought.  She  had  put  iron  into  her  alembic  and  poured 
out  gold.  Queen  of  philosophers ! 

"  There  she  goes  again,"  groaned  Mrs.  Kingston,  who 
heard  the  song  of  gladness,  "  as  irrepressible  as  ever ! 
I  fear  I  can't  stand  this  much  longer,  Colonel." 

The  Greenwoods  was  still  warbling  her  joyous  re- 
frain when  this  note  was  slipped  under  her  door: 

Hurry  down,  you  darling  angel,  and  let  me  tell  you  all 
about  it.  Bob  says  you  are  like  the  angels,  and  straight,  and 
brave, — And  you  are.  Your  own,  SWEETHEABT. 

"  '  As  it  was  in  the  beginning,'  "  chanted  The  Green- 
woods, "  *  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be.'  " 

And  she  scrambled  into  her  dress  and  buttoned  up 
her  shoes  crooked.  "  I'd  like  to  tell  the  girls  about 
last  night,"  she  thought,  "  but  'twould  seem  like  brag- 

277 


278  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

ging !  But  goody !  Marie  will  tell !  Now  I'm  a-going 
to  tell  the  fam'ly  I'm  sorry  for  all  I  said." 

Later  she  wrote  to  Frances.  Robert  had  suspected 
that  she  would,  and  was  nervous.  Of  course  Miss 
Faunce  ought  to  understand  the  difficulty  of  living  with 
The  Greenwoods,  but  did  she? 

Would  she  give  him  credit  for  having  performed  a 
disagreeable  duty  or  would  she  think  him  a  brute?  If 
she  loved  him, — if  she  ever  could  love  him, — she  would 
know  that  he  would  not  mistreat  a  child!  She  had 
doubted  that  her  love  would  last.  Well,  this  would  be 
the  test !  Woody  might  paint  the  scene  at  its  blackest, 
but  if  Miss  Faunce's  next  letter  to  him  was  of  a 
friendly  tone,  he  would  go  to  Baltimore, — and  stay  un- 
til he  won  her. 

But  if  she  should  write  in  anger?  Then  all  would 
be  over  between  them.  Unless  she  could  trust  him, 
love  would  not  last. 

So  he  wrote,  explaining  nothing,  merely  paving  the 
way  for  her  reply.  And  then  he  waited. 

The  two  letters  were  delivered  to  Frances  at  the  same 
time.  As  a  child  she  had  eaten  her  icing  before  she 
had  her  cake,  so  now  she  read  Robert's  first.  It  brought 
forth  a  blush  and  a  smile.  The  rosiness  was  due  to  a 
remark  he  made  about  Woody  and  himself  needing  a 
woman  to  look  after  them;  the  smile,  to  his  specifica- 
tion of  the  woman.  < 

Woody's  epistle  was  less  explicit.  Frances  had  to 
sift  it  to  find  any  meaning  at  all. 

PEECIOUS  FRANCE: 

It  happened.  2 !  Awful  ones !  You  are  not  in  it  with  him. 
I  was  too  good  when  I  had  ought  to  been  so-so.  Then  it 
would  not  have  happened.  But  I  forgive  him.  I  wish  you 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  279 

had  sawn  him  when  he  jumped  on  him.  I  most  died  laughing. 
He  is  a  brave  and  noble  hero.  I  told  him  so.  It  won't  do  to 
trifle  with  the  Doctor.  I  am  being  good. 

"  She  must,"  cogitated  Frances,  "  have  gotten  a 
spanking.  At  least,  that  is  all  I  can  make  of  it.  I 
wonder  if  she  called  him  names." 

Whereat  she  laughed.  She  had  never  taken  her  young 
friend's  troubles  very  seriously.  It  had  never  entered 
her  head  that  anyone  could  be  responsible  for  that  ex- 
uberant being  without  loving  her  devotedly  or  spanking 
her  occasionally.  Robert  might  have  set  his  fears  at 
rest. 

There  was  a  postscript,  though,  and  it  caused  the 
misunderstanding. 

"  You  were  right,  France,  when  you  said  he  was  a  dangerous 
animal.  Dr.  Kingston  is  the  most  dangerous  animal  I  have 
ever  saw ! " 

Frances  dropped  the  letter  in  amazement.  "  Why 
I  never  said  he  was  a  dangerous  animal  in  my  life, — 
nor  any  other  kind  of  animal!  What  does  she  mean? 
I  wonder  if  she  has  told  him  I  said  that.  It  would  be 
just  like  her!  O  Woody, — you'll  break  my  heart,  if 
you  keep  this  up !  Oh,  how  I  hate  the  darling's  letters ! 
When  she  isn't  writing  about  his  marrying  some  horrid 
wretch,  she  starts  a  thing  like  this!  His  mother's 
hating  me  is  bad  enough,  without  his  hating  me  too! 
And  he  thinks  I  called  him  a  dangerous  animal." 

She  got  out  her  handkerchief.  "  If  it  wasn't  so  silly, 
I  could  cry,"  she  sobbed ; — "  being  misrepresented  in 
this  horrid  way  to  him.  No  wonder  he  hasn't  been  to 
see  me,  if  he  thinks  I  talk  like  that  behind  his  back. 
And  what  am  I  to  do  about  it?  Sit  here  with  folded 
hands  and  let  him  hate  me  for  something  I  never  said, 


280  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

or  have  him  feeling  hurt  like  he  did  last  summer,  and 
thinking  me  to  blame?  I  won't  have  a  misunderstand- 
ing now.  I  will  just  write  and  explain." 

The  Foresters  were  afraid;  Robert  that  Frances 
would  think  him  a  brute  and  Frances  that  he  thought 
she  had  called  him  a  dangerous  animal.  Fear  is  con- 
fusing. Frances,  as  it  was  such  a  silly  subject,  had 
broached  it  playfully, — as  she  supposed, — though  in- 
dignation at  The  Greenwoods  vibrated  through  every 
line.  Robert  thought  it  was  directed  against  himself 
and  mistook  her  jesting  for  sarcasm. 

Expecting  to  be  called  a  brute,  he  felt  her  allusion  to 
"  a  dangerous  animal  "  like  a  blow  on  the  cheek.  His 
reply  to  Frances  was  like  a  slap  in  return. 

Some  time  since,  Sylvia  asked  me  the  meaning  of  the  word 
"  Brute,"  and  I  told  her  it  was  "  a  dangerous  animal."  Per- 
haps that  is  what  she  meant.  But  you  wrong  her,  Miss  Faunce. 
She  has  never  told  me  that  you  called  me  a  brute,  and  unless 
you  had  done  so  yourself  I  should  never  have  known  you 
thought  it. 

This  was  not  exactly  true,  but  he  could  not  remem- 
ber everything  The  Greenwoods  had  told  him. 

Frances  was  in  love,  but  was  not  lacking  in  spirit. 
Having  written  especially  to  tell  him  that  she  had  not 
called  him  a  dangerous  animal,  she  had  no  intention  of 
writing  again  to  explain  that  she  had  not  called  him  a 
brute.  That  she  had  answered  The  Greenwoods'  post- 
script, instead  of  Robert's  letter,  never  entered  the  fair 
girl's  head. 

If,  she  decided,  he  misunderstood  so  easily,  and  quar- 
reled over  so  trivial  a  matter,  why,  he  mubt  want  a 
quarrel.  He  was  too  sensible  to  be  really  hurt 
over  so  silly  a  remark,  but  must  be  using  it  as  a  pre- 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  281 

text  for  closing  a  correspondence  of  which  he  had 
wearied.  His  real  reason  was  either  his  mother's  ob- 
jection,— or  Miss  Ardelia  Wile! 

Well, — let  him  go !  Love  is  not  a  serious  thing,  and 
the  world  is  full  of  charming  men.  Frances  had  no 
superstitions  anent  love,  and  nothing  but  contempt  for 
a  broken  heart.  She  would  forget.  So,  taking  her 
last  dance  program,  she  carefully  scanned  her  list  of 
partners,  selecting  the  most  eligible  as  an  aid  in  driving 
Robert  from  her  heart. 

Between  the  Foresters  all  was  over.  Letters  and 
photographs  were  returned,  and  every  memento  of 
their  friendship  was  destroyed, — except  The  Green- 
woods. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

DEAB  FRANCE: 

What  would  you  do  about  it  if  you  were  me  and  did  not 
know  how  to  be  good  and  everybody  you  picked  out  to  be  good 
like  cried  and  said  you  was  mocking  them?  I  tried  Marie's 
way  and  Pearl's  but  neither  way  is  any  fun  and  it  hurt  their 
feelings.  It  is  not  polite  either.  So  I  won't  be  good  any  way 
at  all  but  polite  like  my  papa  said  for  he  has  more  sense 
than  all  the  teachers  and  Kingstons  put  together.  I  told  the 
dangerous  animal  so  and  he  looked  at  me  awful  long  and  hard 
and  scary  and  locked  me  up  and  left  the  room.  But  I  won't  be 
good.  No  never. 

Yours  truly, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

DEAB  FBANCIE  : 

What  do  you  want  me  to  be  good  for?  I  am  not  your  busi- 
ness now  and  when  I  was  you  never  turned  gray-headed  over 
it.  Besides  you  was  not  good  when  you  was  little  and  are 
not  so  powerful  now  or  him  either  tho  he  acts  so  pious  about 
me.  His  Sister  Ellen  told  me  about  him.  He  was  a  case. 
I  got  after  him  about  his  pertending  and  expecting  it  of  me 
and  he  said  he  was  a  boy  and  boys  are  different.  I  told  him 
you  was  not  a  boy  and  was  the  worst  ever.  The  girls  and 
boys  are  playing  snow-ball  and  I  am  locked  up.  But  Walter 
throws  his  snow-balls  to  my  window.  Stop  your  fussing,  cross- 
eyed-angel and  tell  me  about  your  new  dress. 

Lovingly, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

DARLING  FRANCE: 

No  I  won't  so  there.  My  papa  knows  best  and  I  will  be 
polite.  I  might  be  good  if  I  was  living  with  you  but  that  will 
never  be.  I  asked  him  a  minute  ago  why  that  gentle  miracle 
didn't  hurry  so  you  and  me  could  live  together  instead  of  me 
spending  my  life  in  this  pesky  grammar  room.  And  he  said 
we  cannot  have  everything  we  want  in  this  world  but  must 
take  what  God  gives  us  and  be  resined  and  I  said  darn  and  he 

282 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  283 

scolded  me  and  kissed  me.     When  people  lock  me  up  I  wish 
they  might  leave  out  the  kissing. 

Lovingly, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

PRECIOUS  FRANCIE; 

I  was  not  kep  in  to-day  but  thair  is  no  child  to  play  with 
for  Mrs.  Kingston  has  taken  them  all  slay  riding  except  me. 
She  said  she  was  sorry  but  she  supposed  I  would  be  locked  up 
so  she  asked  another  girl  in  my  place  what  is  not  kep  in  so 
often.  I  think  she  fibbed  and  did  not  want  me  for  it  has 
happened  before  with  her  and  other  mothers.  Marie  and 
Harriet  are  chums  now  and  have  secrets  from  me  and  Pearl 
is  still  mad  because  I  mocked  her.  But  I  don't  cair  for  a 
crack  is  in  the  Grammar  Room  and  the  Happy  Children — 

With  much  love, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

P.  S.    The  reason  I  stopped  writing  is  because  Walter  came 
and  took  me  skating  on  the  pond. 

MY    OWN    DARLING    FRANCE: 

What  have  you  done  to  make  these  people  hate  you  so? 
Every  time  I  speak  your  name  they  nearly  take  my  head  off 
except  Walter.  He  said  if  Bob  had  any  sense  he  would  marry 
you  and  I  said  you  have  too  much  sense  to  marry  Bob. 
And  he  is  mad  at  me.  When  I  mention  you  to  the  doctor  he 
tells  me  some  ink  is  on  my  nose  and  don't  say  ain't  and  such 
like.  But  I  do  not  care  I  love  you  and  told  the  family  boldly 
you  was  prettier  than  Miss  Ardelia  knew  how  to  fix  up  to  be. 

Yours  truly, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

FRANCIE  FAUNCE: 

I  am  surprised  to  deth  at  the  wedding.  How  ever  did  it 
happen?  When  is  it  to  be?  Did  you  ever,  ever,  ever?  I 
cannot  think  it  true.  I  cannot  think  that  such  a  thing  can  be. 
I  wish  I  was  with  you  to  hear  it  all.  How  long  has  it  been 
going  on?  I  had  not  heard  a  word.  Why  did  you  not  tell 
me  last  summer?  Did  you  know  it  then?  A  person  can  never 
tell  what  will  happen  next  but  I  did  not  think  of  this. 

Your  loving  and  devoted  friend, 
THE  GREENWOODS. 

DEAR  FRANCE  : 

I  am  still  having  fits  about  the  wedding.  It  is  awful  at  a 
time  like  this  to  be  with  strangers  what  do  not  know  a  person's 
folks.  I  am  crazy  to  know  it  all.  It  beats  anything  I  ever 


284  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

heard.  Who'd  a  thought  it?  When  I  got  your  letter  I  was  so 
near  popped  to  tell  it  that  I  ran  out  to  the  lab  and  busted  in 
the  door  to  where  the  doctor  was  making  some  dope  to  cure 
tifoid  fever  whiten  is  all  he  ever  does  now  except  to  lock  me 
up.  He  is  like  a  bear.  He  is  so  hateful  even  Miss  Ardelia  is 
mad  at  him  and  they  have  quit  and  he  never  even  goes  to 
see  the  widow.  I  forgot  my  manners  I  was  so  upset  about 
the  wedding  and  thought  he  would  be  glad  to  hear  the  news. 
So  I  hollered  it  out  quick  and  he  said  a  bad  word  and  dropped 
the  nasty  stuff  he  was  making  on  the  carpet.  And  it  burnt  a 
hole  in  the  carpet  and  made  an  awful  smell  and  he  looked 
so  stupendous  curious  for  a  minute  not  even  noticing  the  fire 
that  you  would  thought  it  a  deth  and  not  a  wedding.  Then 
he  put  out  the  fire  and  asked  when  it  is  to  be  and  I  said  you 
had  not  writ.  And  he  told  me  to  get  out  and  you  bet  I  did. 
When  is  it? 

Your  loving  and  devoted  friend  as  ever, 
THE  GBEENWOODS. 

DEAREST  AND  BELOVED  FRANCIE: 

Have  I  told  you  about  it  lately  that  I  love  you  the  same 
as  ever  and  tho  time  and  distance  part  us  we  can  be  adopteds 
on  our  inside  but  not  without.  So  it  is  to  be  in  March.  How 
things  will  be  changed.  Did  I  tell  you  about  Dr.  Kingston 
shaking  my  head  off  yestiddy?  The  hateful  thing  over  nothing. 
Just  because  when  I  was  so  excited  about  the  wedding  when  I 
got  your  first  letter  I  told  him  it  was  you  going  to  be  married 
insted  of  Edith  and  your  brother.  And  he  has  been  thinking 
it  was  you. 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

P.  S.  He  said  he  shook  me  for  never  getting  things  straight, 
and  if  I  could  not  tell  them  right  not  never  to  talk  at  all. 
And  he  left  me  locked  up  clean  till  night.  The  cross-eyed  dog. 

THE  G. 

DEAB  FRANCE  : 

Your  brother  has  mighty  little  to  do.  A  sister's  enemy  is 
no  person  for  a  brother  to  marry.  He  is  not  treating  you 
right.  He  is  disgracing  you.  I  knew  he  went  with  her  last 
summer  but  I  thought  it  was  because  I  asked  him  to  watch 
and  keep  the  doctor  from  courting  her  and  to  cut  him  out. 
Then  he  fell  in  love  hisself.  I  thought  he  had  more  sense 
and  feeling,  or  I  would  have  stopped  him  too.  How  can  I 
ever  keep  things  straight  when  grown  folks  act  like  that? 
Their  foolishness  makes  me  sick. 

Yours  truly, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 


«  THE  GREENWOODS  "  285 

P.  S.  Will  they  live  with  her  people  or  by  theirselves  or 
sponge  on  you?  Don't  you  stand  it  a  minute.  Do  you  want 
me  to  write  to  them?  When  I  get  married  to  Mr.  Chester  or 
Walter  or  some  of  the  others  you  can  live  with  us.  I  have 
asked  them  all  about  it  and  they  say  they  will  be  pleased. 

THE  G. 

OH  FBANCIE: 

Now  what  do  you  think?  Edith  has  asked  me  to  be  a 
flower  girl  with  Goldilocks!  Is  it  not  stupendous  scrumptious!?! 
It  was  a  nice  letter  too.  What  if  she  turns  out  to  be  a  sweet 
girl  after  all?  And  you  maid  of  honor.  And  Mrs.  Bowers 
and  the  school  crowd  to  be  there.  Won't  they  drop  dead  when 
they  see  you  and  me  and  Goldilocks  and  Edith  all  marching  up 
to  be  married  together  and  Brother  Raymond?  I  bet  the  folks 
will  grin.  Will  you  get  my  dress  or  must  I?  Won't  it  be 
sweet?  Me  and  Goldilocks  in  them  little,  cunning  dresses? 
It  will  be  like  at  the  convent  when  I  was  flower  girl  for  Sister 
Mary  Joseph  only  Edith  won't  have  her  hair  cut  off  and  there 
will  be  a  man. 

Your  friend  and  well  wisher, 
THE  GREENWOODS. 

FBANCIE  : 

What  do  you  think  now?  I  asked  him  if  I  could  go  and  he 
said  he  could  not  go  himself  and  who  would  take  care  of  me 
and  I  said  you  and  he  said  you  had  not  offered  and  I  said 
you  had  and  he  said  he  had  not  received  a  letter  from  you 
and  if  you  wanted  to  take  his  ward  you  could  write  and  ask 
him  and  he  would  decide  later. 

Lovingly, 
THE  GREENWOODS. 

DEAR  FRANCE: 

Have  you  got  my  dress  yet?  If  some  one  don't  tend  to  it 
righterway  it  will  be  too  late  for  the  wedding  and  what  will 
I  do?  It  is  most  time  now  and  your  letter  about  me  has  not 
come  and  he  is  waiting  and  I  am  most  crazy.  He  says  for 
me  to  be  pashunt.  But  how  can  I  pashunt  and  my  dress  not 
started?  Yours  in  haste, 

THE  GREENWOODS. 

0  FRANCE: 

I  cannot  go  to  the  wedding  and  I  am  about  to  die  of  sorrer. 

1  want  to  go  so  bad.     Everybody  will  be  thair  but  me  and  I 
will   be  here  in   Wayville  where   no   one  wants  me.     He  is 
sorry  too  or  I  would  be  mad  at  him  but  he  was  willing  and 


286  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

your  letter  never  came  and  the  time  is  near  and  Edith  would 
want  to  know  so  he  could  wait  no  longer.  Franeie  what  has 
happened? 

Lovingly, 
THE  GREENWOODS. 

P.  S.  I  want  to  die  and  go  to  heaven.  Heaven  is  not  like 
this  for  my  papa  is  there  in  a  beautiful  little  home  with  a  room 
in  it  for  me.  I  want  to  see  my  little  room.  I  wonder  will 
it  be  trimmed  in  jewelry  or  flowers.  It  will  be  lots  of  fun 
in  heaven  but  no  weddings. 

THE  G. 

P.  S.  Why  did  you  not  write,  Francie?  Did  you  not  want 
to  take  me?  Have  I  made  you  mad  too?  I  never  ment  it. 

THE  G. 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII 

THEY  were  in  the  big,  comfortable-looking  room, — 
the  children's  study,  where  they  romped,  popped  corn, 
and  were  supposed  to  get  their  lessons.  Marie  was 
down-stairs  chatting  with  her  parents,  while  Walter 
and  The  Greenwoods,  with  a  studious  array  of  books 
around  them,  were  talking  to  one  another.  On  his  face 
was  a  frown  of  impatience,  on  hers,  the  look  of  gentle 
scorn  that  a  big  man  wears  when  his  wife  is  urging 
overshoes  upon  him. 

"  You're  so  nervous,  Walter.  All  the  Kingstons  are. 
Now  how  can  a  crack  behind  the  door  harm  a  little 
girl?" 

"  It's  not  the  crack.  It's  the  things  that  come 
through  it." 

"What's  wrong  with  the  Happy  Children?  I  love 
'em." 

"  You'd  better  leave  'em  alone.  Live  folks  ought  to 
go  with  live  folks,  and  spooks  with  spooks.  It's  Bob's 
fault.  He  shouldn't  lock  you  up  so  much  by  your- 
self. You'll  die,  darling.  People  always  die  when 
they  get  to  seeing  ghosty  things." 

"  What  if  I  do  ?  You  talk  like  heaven  is  the  small- 
pox!" 

"  Do  you  want  to  die?  " 

"  It's  perfectly  lovely  both  ways, — alive  and  dead. 
It's  the  same  to  me.  At  least,  it  would  be,  if — if  I 
liked  Wayville.  I  believe  I'll  run  away.  I'm  tired  of 
going  to  school,  and  being  bossed,  and  playing  with 

287 


288  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

girls  whose  mothers  don't  like  me.  Where  would  you 
go  if  you  were  me?  " 

"  You  can't  go.  Girls  never  run  away.  Wait  till 
spring,  sweetheart,  and  I  will  play  outdoors  with  you 
all  day  long." 

"  Why  don't  girls  run  away  ?  " 

"  It  is  too  easy  to  catch  'em,  and  they  get  into  such 
everlasting  trouble  when  they're  caught." 

"  They'll  never  catch  me !  " 

"  Yes  they  will.  Bob  will  advertise  for  the  sweetest 
girl  on  earth,  and  they  will  spot  you  in  a  minute.  What 
would  you  do,  anyway  ?  " 

"  I'm  a-going  to  hermit, — all  by  myself  in  a  beauti- 
ful cave,  so  the  Happy  Children  can  visit  me.  They 
won't  come  unless  I  am  alone.  You  see  the  grammar 
room  would  do  if  it  wasn't  for  the  grammar.  Besides, 
Dr.  Kingston's  feelings  get  hurt  because  he  has  to 
lock  me  up  so  often,  him  not  knowing  that  I  do  it  a- 
purpose  now,  and  he  makes  himself  so  unpleasant  that 
he  hurts  mine.  In  the  cave  there  won't  be  any  feelings, 
— only  soft,  green  moss,  like  velvet,  and  flowers  in  the 
corners,  and  pink  silk  on  the  walls,  and  diamonds  and 
turquoises  in  the  ceiling.  It's  a  lovely  cave !  " 

"  Where  is  it?" 

"  I  don't  know.  I  want  you  to  tell  me,  so  I  can  go 
to  it.  My  inside  body's  seen  it  often,  but  I  can't  find  it 
in  the  go'graphy.  You  are  ahead  of  me  though  and 
I  thought  maybe  you  knew  the  country.  It  is  a  lovely 
land  with  fruit  and  flowers,  near  the  sea,  with  snow- 
capped mountains.  The  sun's  always  shining  there, 
and  there's  trees  a  mile  high  for  little  girls  to  swing  in. 
Where  is  it,  Walter?  " 

He   had   heard    before, — with    disapproval, — of   her 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  289 

various  bodies  and  the  Kingdom;  so  he  grasped  at  the 
commonplace  explanation  that  promised  to  hold  her 
thoughts  to  earth. 

"  In  California,  I  guess.  But  there's  no  such  cave 
there.  Caves  are  not  like  that." 

"  Mine  is,  because  my  insides's  seen  it  How  far  is 
California?  " 

"  More  than  a  thousand  miles.  Bob  will  catch  you 
before  you  get  started  and  you  know  what  he  will  do  ?  " 

Disliking  Bob's  probable  behavior,  she  sighed, — 
more  reflectively,  though,  than  despondently, — and 
slightly  changed  her  plans. 

"  .What's  the  use  in  putting  off  marrying  till  we  are 
grown,  Walter?  Let's  marry  and  go  to  California  now. 
We  can  hermit  together." 

With  a  despairing  smile,  he  looked  at  her,  wishing 
that  this  dear  little  lady  of  his  had  been  endowed  with 
a  larger  share  of  common  sense. 

"  I'd  love  to,  but  they  wouldn't  let  us.  We  are  too 
young." 

"  We  won't  ask  'em." 

"  But,  sweetheart ;  the  preacher  would  know  we  are 
too  young  and  would  telegraph  papa  and  Bob,  and 
they  would  come  and  get  us." 

She  sighed  again;  still  not  resignedly, — regretfully 
rather, — as  if  for  a  dream  that  had  passed. 

"  I'm  sorry,  Walter,  I  like  you  and  admire  you  so 
much.  You  are  different  from  other  boys,  and  I  know 
you  would  help  me  if  you  could?  You  are  brave  and 
noble,  and  I  wish  that  it  could  be.  But  if  it  can't,  it 
can't.  So  I  guess  I'll  have  to  marry  Mr.  Chester." 

The  boy  sprang  to  his  feet. 

"  I  thought  you  loved  me." 


290  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

"  I  do." 

"  I  thought  you  loved  me  best." 

"  No,  Walter,  I  love  God  the  best." 

"  I  mean  better  than  Chess." 

"  I  love  you  better  as  a  sweetheart,  and  him  better 
as  a  beau." 

"  You  can't  love  us  both  the  best.  It  must  be  one, — 
and  that  one  you  must  marry." 

"  I  love  God  the  best,  but  I  love  you  and  Mr.  Ches- 
ter both  the  better  in  your  way  and  his  way.  You  are 
both  human  beings.  It  isn't  your  fault  or  his,  but  that 
is  all  you  are.  So  what's  the  use  in  being  so  particular 
with  poor  critturs  ?  " 

"  Which  had  you  rather  marry  ?  " 

"  The  one  that  I  can  get." 

"  Suppose  you  could  get  us  both?  " 

"  I  can't.    You  are  too  young." 

"  You  sha'n't  marry  him." 

"Who'll  stop  me?" 

"  I  will.  You  promised  not  to  marry  anyone  I  didn't 
want  you  to." 

"  Well," — she  regarded  him  with  a  noble  air  of  im- 
partiality,— "who  do  you  want  me  to  marry?  I'll 
marry  anyone  you  say, — if  they  are  willing." 

The  boy  was  not  pleased  with  this  impartiality.  He 
felt  that  a  husband  was  one  of  the  things  for  which  a 
woman  should  have  a  predilection.  Were  all  people 
alike  to  The  Greenwoods?  Did  she  make  no  nice  dis- 
tinctions? He  frowned. 

"  I  want  you  to  marry  me." 

"  All  right.     How  will  to-morrow  suit  ?  " 

"We  can't  marry  to-morrow.  We  must  wait  till 
we  are  grown." 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  291 

"  Now,  Walter ;  you  be  reasonable.  I've  give  you 
your  chance,  and  if  you  can't  take  it,  you  be  quiet  and 
sweet  about  it.  I  didn't  promise  you  to  be  an  old  maid, 
so  it  is  Mr.  Chester.  If  he  happens  to  die  by  the  time 
you  are  grown,  I'll  marry  you;  but  if  he  doesn't,  me 
and  him  will  just  go  on  being  happy  together." 

"  If  you  marry  him,  I'll  never  speak  to  you  again." 

"  You'll  have  to.     I'll  be  your  sister-in-law." 

"Chess  doesn't  love  you!  He  is  just  fooling  you 
because  you  are  little  and  cute.  He  is  not  in  earnest." 

"  Why,  he  is  crazy  about  me  and  has  asked  me  to 
marry  him  a  million  times." 

"  He's  a  flirt." 

"  Don't  talk  about  my  future  husband  that  way, 
Walter !  He  is  not." 

"  Remember  what  I  tell  you.  Grown  men  don't 
marry  eight-year-old  girls." 

"  That's  because  the  girls  are  babyish  and  silly. 
Lots  of  men  have  wanted  to  marry  me.  And  if  Mr. 
Chester  hadn't  a-wanted  to  marry  me,  he  never  would 
'a  asked  me.  You  wait  and  see." 

The  Greenwoods  was  tired  of  the  constant  struggle 
with  environment.  She  was  formed  for  happiness  and 
happiness  she  would  have.  She  had  never  sought  it  in 
the  world,  but  had  found  it  in  herself  and  shared  it 
with  the  world;  but  when  the  world  no  longer  wanted 
it,  it  was  no  longer  offered.  The  happiness  was  still 
there,  but  no  longer  bubbled  out  toward  earth,  but  to- 
ward heaven. 

The  mothers,  fearful  of  her  influence,  had  joined 
with  Mrs.  Kingston  in  her  attempt  at  alienating  the 
childrens'  affection  from  the  independent  young  or- 
phan. A  chord  had  been  touched  to  which  the  human 


292  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

nature  in  the  children's  breasts  responded.  The  Green- 
woods was  as  independent  of  playmates  as  she  was  of 
guardians. 

"  It  is  a  lot  of  fun  to  play  with  her,"  Harriet  had 
complained,  "  but  what  does  she  care  for  us?  " 

"  She  would  just  as  soon,"  agreed  Marie,  "  play  with 
our  mothers'  washerwomen's  children  as  with  us. 
I've  been  running  after  her  ever  since  she's  been  liv- 
ing in  our  house  and  she  will  scarcely  associate.  She 
has  never  run  after  me  once!  I'm  tired  of  it." 

"  Let's  organize  a  club  and  leave  her  out.  Of  course 
we  won't  leave  her  out  for  good.  We  will  just  show 
her  that  we  can  get  on  without  her.  She  thinks  too 
much  of  herself." 

"  She  acts  like  I  am  the  dirt  under  her  feet,"  agreed 
Marie,  "  but  just  the  minute  she  says  she  is  sorry,  or 
asks  us  to  let  her  join,  we  will  take  her  in.  You  see, 
it  won't  be  long,  Harriet ;  for  brother  Robert  won't 
let  her  play  with  common  children,  so  it  is  us  or  no 
one,  and  she  will  soon  be  glad  to  be  nice  to  us." 

So  in  an  hour  of  madness  the  deed  had  been  done. 
The  club  was  organized  at  Marie's  while  The  Green- 
woods was  writing  grammar.  When,  at  last,  free  from 
her  durance,  she  came  joyously  running  out  to  play 
with  them, — they  showed  her!  There  had  been  one 
astonished  gasp,  and  then  she  had  turned  and  left  them ; 
and  a  sorry,  sorry  victory  had  been  theirs. 

She  had  withdrawn  into  her  Kingdom  for  comfort; 
and  there  the  Happy  Children  had  come,  had  dried 
her  tears,  and  compassed  her  about  with  strength  and 
gladness.  She  had  a  crowd  of  her  own,  an  invisible 
hos^,  and  she  went  on  her  way  rejoicing.  The  gram- 
mar room  had  lost  its  terrors,  for  there  was  a  crack 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  293 

behind  the  door;  and  through  it  her  shadowy  com- 
panions stole  and  played  with  her ;  and  the  Greenwoods 
was  in  thrall. 

At  first  she  had  only  known  them  dimly,  as  if  de- 
prived of  one  of  her  senses;  but  after  she  had  learned 
to  call  them  through  the  crack  they  had  grown  more 
distinct  to  her  vision;  until  at  length  they  came  with- 
out her  bidding,  because  they  were  always  hovering 
near.  She  saw  them  floating  on  billowy  clouds,  dancing 
in  the  open  fire,  or  playing  up  high  in  the  falling  snow, 
— while  always  they  were  calling  her  from  work  or 
play :  "  Greenwoods  !  Greenwoods  !  " 

Sometimes  she  answered,  and  people  looked  at  her 
strangely.  But  they  were  only  stupid,  meat  people, — 
so  what  did  it  matter?  As  she  grew  more  alive  to  the 
voices  of  the  ethereal  creatures  that  haunted  her,  the 
call  of  her  human  friends  seemed  further  off.  Only 
Walter  and  his  companions,  with  their  livelier  sports, 
could  break  through  the  spell. 

No  one  noticed  the  change  in  her  but  Walter,  for  no 
one  but  Walter  cared.  Many  loved  her,  but  few  sus- 
pected how  much  of  her  time  was  spent  in  solitude. 
Robert  thought  that  when  she  was  not  in  the  closet  she 
was  playing  with  the  children ;  the  children  thought  she 
was  playing  with  some  one  else  more  fortunate.  The 
"  meat  children  "  in  leaving  her  out  had  omitted  their 
chief  element  of  fun,  and  soon  wanted  her  back  again. 

"  She  knows  more  about  having  fun,"  they  mourned, 
"  than  anybody  living.  She  knows  all  about  it  that 
there  is  to  know,  and  now  she  won't  play  with  us  any 
more." 

For  The  Greenwoods  had  failed  to  see  the  over- 
tures they  had  made.  She  was  free  from  resentment, 


294  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

but  with  her  Kingdom,  her  dolls,  the  servants,  the  boys, 
school,  grammar,  and  letters,  she  simply  had  no  time 
for  pesky,  little  meat  girls. 

The  grammar  room  was  generally  considered  a 
stroke  of  genius.  Even  Mrs.  Kingston,  who  had  dis- 
approved at  first,  had  begun  to  consider  it  an  ideal  ar- 
rangement. She  acknowledged  that  she  has  been  mis- 
taken in  thinking  the  situation  could  not  last.  Every 
one  spoke  of  the  excellent  effect  it  was  having  upon  the 
child,  who  was  becoming  unobtrusive  and  as  quiet  as 
a  little  mouse.  Mrs.  Kingston  was  enjoying  her  first 
era  of  peace  since  the  arrival  of  The  Greenwoods. 

Yet  even  Robert  had  underestimated  the  child's  love 
of  play.  Play  she  would,  even  though  she  had  to  slip 
through  the  gates  of  Heaven  and  play  with  angels.  As 
it  was,  she  had  found  the  land  where  poets  dwell, — the 
land  which  some  enter  by  violence  with  the  aid  of 
drugs, — and  there,  piloted  by  the  Happy  Children  and 
surrounded  by  pleasures  that  never  grow  stale,  she 
longed  to  pass  her  days.  To  do  this  she  must  be  alone, 
for  the  Happy  Children  were  timid.  Therefore,  she 
would  be  a  hermit. 

The  next  day  she  was  late,  as  usual.  She  had  re- 
mained after  school  to  obtain  some  information  about 
her  Kingdom,  under  the  guise  of  California  and  caves. 
She  was  slipping  around  to  the  side  door, — which  she 
used  habitually  now  in  order  to  avoid  the  family, — 
when  she  was  called  to  the  "  lab."  Absorbed  in  the  new 
books  she  held,  she  absently  entered,  and,  before  she 
realized  it,  was  given  a  task  and  locked  up  in  the  gram- 
mar room. 

In  disgust,  she  surveyed  the  hated  text-book.  She 
hadn't  "  done  nothing,"  so  what'd  she  have  to  write 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  295 

"that  hateful  grammar  for?"  Then  it  dawned  upon 
her.  She  had  been  locked  up  by  mistake!  Her  face 
suffused  with  smiles,  she  seized  her  pen  and  writing 
across  the  paper,  "  April  Fool,"  grabbed  her  book, 
tilted  back  her  chair,  and  was  lost  in  Mammoth  Cave. 

When  Robert  returned  he  was  greeted  with  a  smile: 
"  Have  you  finished  your  grammar  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yessir,  it's  done  just  beautiful,"  she  meekly  an- 
swered. 

Turning  to  examine  it,  his  eye  was  offended  by  the 
glaring  sign  and  he  looked  at  her  in  displeasure.  He 
met  a  broadening  smile.  "  That's  what  you  get,"  she 
chuckled,  "  for  locking  a  girl  up  what  wasn't  kept  in. 
I  hope  'twill  be  a  lesson  to  you.  Oh,  it's  a  joke  on  you, 
Dr.  Kingston ! " 

He  made  a  gesture  of  dismay,  and  she  shook  with 
laughter  at  his  confusion.  Long  ago  he  had  wearied  of 
her  insouciance,  and  by  a  forbidding  manner,  had  al- 
most repressed  it, — during  hours  of  discipline ;  but  now, 
over  an  unmerited  punishment,  it  had  broken  out  again. 

"  Why  were  you  late  in  getting  home,  then  ?  "  he 
asked.  For  he  felt  the  injustice  of  his  act,  if  she  did 
not. 

"  I  stayed  to  ask  Miss  Jones  about  California.  And 
you  thought  I  was  kept  in !  I  got  ahead  of  you  one 
time,  Dr.  Kingston !  " 

"  I'm  glad  you,  at  least,  are  enjoying  the  joke,  you 
monkey!  Have  you  had  a  very  dull  afternoon, 
Woody?" 

"  It's  been  lovely !  But  I  wish  you  would  put  a  rock- 
ing-chair in  here." 

"  I  suppose  I  must,  if  you  want  it.  The  treat's  on 
me,  you  know." 


296  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

"  0 — h !  Is  there  to  be  another  treat  ?  "  She  gurgled 
in  delight  at  the  prospect,  and  he  looked  at  her  re- 
proachfully. 

It  was  only  on  occasions  like  this  that  he  realized 
how  dependent  she  was  upon  him,  how  little  he  under- 
stood her,  and  how  easily  satisfied  she  was.  He  could 
count  upon  his  fingers  all  the  requests  she  had  ever 
made  him.  She  was  the  best  child  in  the  world, — in 
some  ways. 

"If  you  want  anything,  dear,  why  haven't  you 
asked  for  it?  You  needn't  wait  for  me  to  treat! 
Haven't  I  told  you  time  and  again  that  I  will  give  you 
anything  I  can  ?  " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Dr.  Kingston.  I  hope  I  haven't 
hurt  your  feelings  again,  but  I  haven't  wanted  this  very 
long." 

He  was  almost  as  eager  to  grant  the  favor  as  she 
was  to  obtain  it. 

"What  is  it?" 

"  May  I  go  to  California,  and  live  in  a  beautiful 
cave?  " 

At  this  simple  request  he  grew  sarcastic. 

"Is  that  all,  dear  child?" 

"  Yessir.     May  I  go?" 

"You  and  I  together?" 

"  No,  sir.     Just  me  by  myself." 

"  Where  thou  goest  I  go,  Greenwoods." 

"  Whatever  would  you  do  in  a  cave,  Dr.  Kingston?  " 

"  Whatever  would  you  do  there,  Greenwoods  ?  " 

«  I  shall  hermit."  * 

He  laughed.  "  Won't  something  within  the  bounds 
of  reason  do  as  well." 

"  No,  sir.    Nothing  will  do  but  hermiting." 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  297 

"  I'm  sorry,  but  I  can't  permit  any  hermiting." 

"  Then  something  else  will  do." 

"  That  sounds  better."  He  laughed  again.  "  What 
is  it  now?  " 

"  I'd  like  to  get  married,  please,  sir." 

She  lisped  her  request, — she  had  recently  lost  a  tooth 
— very  seriously,  and  she  looked  so  childish,  with  her 
short  curly  hair  and  pinafore,  that  his  wonder  grew. 

"  Now  why  in  thunder  do  you  want  to  marry  ?  " 

'*  So  as  I  can  go  to  California  and  live  in  my  beauti- 
ful cave." 

"  Oh !     Well,  I  can't  even  allow  you  to  marry." 

"All  right!" — cordially.  "I  just  asked  you  to  be 
on  the  safe  side."  She  was  visibly  entertained  at  some 
thought.  "  Don't  you  never  say  I  didn't  ask  you." 

Her  confidence  was  so  superb,  and  she  had  so  many 
jolts  ahead,  that, — knowing  he  would  not  be  able  to 
spare  her, — he  felt  a  pang.  Little  Greenwoods,  with 
her  wide-eyed  hopefulness,  her  laughter,  and  babyish 
trust, — what  had  the  world  to  give  her?  He  took  her 
in  his  arms. 

"  You  are  too  little  to  marry,  dear.  Don't  set  your 
heart  on  it.  And  if  you  try  any  time  soon,  remember 
that  I  warned  you."* 

"  Was  you  ever  inside  of  Mammoth  Cave,  Dr.  King- 
ston? "  She  looked  up  with  an  air  so  sweetly  superior 
that  he  put  her  down. 

"  No.  Now  you  have  been  shut  up  long  enough. 
Run  out  and  play.  I'm  sorry  I  made  that  mistake,  and 
when  you  want  something, — I  mean  something  that 
isn't  absolutely  absurd, — remember  I  owe  you  a  treat." 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

ON  Friday  nights  Chester  came  home  from  college, 
and  The  Greenwoods  thought  he  came  especially  to  see 
her, — a  delusion  he  encouraged.  Always  he  found  time 
to  take  her  for  a  ride  or  to  a  photoplay.  When  he 
came  he  brought  her  chocolates,  when  he  left  he  gave 
her  flowers;  and  these  civilities  were  never  offered  as 
to  a  little  girl,  but  always  as  to  the  lady  of  his  af- 
fection. Underneath  his  jesting  was  a  real  tribute  to 
her  charm. 

They  were  kindred  spirits,  and  each  shone  brighter 
for  the  other's  presence.  His  coming  was  a  festival  for 
which  she  dressed  her  finest,  and  as  the  hour  of  his  ar- 
rival approached,  her  manners  grew  more  airy  and  her 
smiles  incessant. 

Thus  she  kept  the  feast  outwardly ;  but  for  her  own 
private  satisfaction,  she  put  fresh  dresses  on  her  dolls 
and  garnished  her  room,  so  that  everything  might  be 
beautiful  when  he  came.  Mrs.  Burns  connected  the 
decorations  with  their  cause  and  one  day  in  the  fall  had 
shown  them  to  Chester.  The  small  apartment  was 
gay  with  colored  leaves,  while  on  every  doll  was  a  rose. 
He  never  forgot  it,  and  the  little  girl  that  embellished 
her  dolls  for  his  coming  became  sacred  in  his  eyes, — 
his  little  patron  saint.  It  was  after  this  that  he  began 
to  give  her  flowers. 

Until  his  salutations  to  the  family  were  finished  she 
never  appeared.  When  she  entered  the  room, — as  if  by 
chance, — one  or  the  other  would  exclaim,  in  joyful  sur- 

298 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  299 

prise,  "  Why,  there  is  Mr.  Chester ! "  or,  "  Miss  For- 
est," as  the  case  might  be.  She  gracefully  advanced, 
and  he,  bowing  low,  imprinted  a  kiss  upon  her  hand. 
After  the  compliments  of  the  day  had  been  exchanged, 
he  presented  his  offering  and  received  her  thanks. 

Early  in  the  acquaintance  he  had  formed  the  habit 
of  proposing.  In  fact,  it  had  been  forced  upon  him. 
Her  reply  was  always  negative,  but  an  unprejudiced 
observer  might  have  judged  that  he  derived  a  certain 
pleasure  from  the  graciousness  and  ingenuity  of  these 
rejections. 

Now,  however,  her  sweet  unkindness  was  at  an  end. 
She  had  decided  to  make  her  unsuspecting  lover  happy. 
Her  opportunity  came  on  Saturday  afternoon.  He 
was  smoking  his  cigar  in  the  den,  while  she, — dressed 
elaborately  in  white, — was  entertaining  him. 

"  Was  you  ever  in  California,  Mr.  Chester  ?  " 

"  I  regret  to  say,  Miss  Forest,  that  I've  never  yet 
had  the  pleasure." 

"It's  a  lovely  State.  I'm  thinking  of  presiding 
there,  "  she  angled,  with  a  smile. 

He  was  surprised.  "  Honestly  ?  When  do  you 
leave?" 

"  Whenever  I  can  get — congenial  company." 

At  this  announcement  he  grew  dumb,  watching  her 
tactics  with  amusement.  As  he  did  not  seem  to  under- 
stand, she  explained  more  fully. 

"  I  shall  live  in  the  part  where  the  big  trees  grow, — 
in  a  beautiful  cave, — and  I  shall  hermit  all  by  myself, 
unless  the  company  is  awfully  congenial."  A  pause. 
"  The  cave  is  up  in  the  mountains,  and  sitting  on  the 
porch,  you  can  overlook  the  sea.  White  snow  is  there 
what  never  melts,  and  purling  streams,  and  four  gey- 


300  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

sers.  One  at  the  front  door  for  bathing,  and  one  for 
ornamental  purposes,  another  at  the  back  for  cooking, 
and  the  last  for  washing  the  clothes.  Isn't  it  a  con- 
venient cave?  " 

"Perfectly  grand!" 

Here  followed  another  pause. 

"  But  I  haven't  told  you  half  yet !  When  you  hear 
the  rest  about  that  cave,  you  will  be  crazy  to  go  with 
me."  A  more  perceptible  pause.  "  It  has  soft,  green 
moss  on  the  ground  for  a  carpet,  and  velvet,  balsam 
cushions;  the  ceiling  is  interspersed  with  crystal 
formations  of  diamonds  and  turquoises,  while  tour- 
malines are  stuck  all  over  it  thick.  The  walls  are 
draped  with  lace  over  pink  taffeta !  There's  fireflies  to 
light  it  up;  jardinieres  of  palms  and  vases  of  rare  cut 
flowers  in  the  corners;  gorgeous  birds  flit  about  tap- 
estry lounges  from  the  Orient,  while,  scattered  here  and 
there,  are  stalagmites  of  gold  and  stalactites  of  ivory, 
— to  hang  your  clothes  on !  " 

Chester  was  overcome.  He  buried  his  face  in  his 
handkerchief,  while  The  Greenwoods  regarded  him 
gravely.  He  had  never  been  so  slow  before. 

"  I  don't  see  anything  to  laugh  at,  Mr.  Chester." 

"  I'm  not  laughing.    It's  the  smoke  from  this  cigar." 

"  Stop  smoking  then." 

"  I'm  better  now,  Miss  Forest.  Tell  me  more 
about  that  cave;  your  stalagmites  and  stalactites." 

"  They're  always  in  caves, — and  gold  and  ivory  grow 
in  California." 

"  But  gold  doesn't  grow ;  it's  dug  out  of  the 
ground." 

"  So  are  potatoes,  and  they  grow.  I  lived  on  a  farm 
once, — and  I  know." 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  301 

"  But  they  are  vegetables,  and  gold  is  a  mineral." 

"What's  the  dif, — outside  of  books?"  She  spoke 
impatiently. 

"  Vegetables  have  roots  and  grew,  while  minerals 
are  formed  by — well,  various  phenomena  and  cata- 
clysms of  nature." 

Such  words  are  convincing,  and  she  thoughtfully  re- 
constructed her  plans.  Nevertheless,  she  wondered  why 
Mr.  Chester  was  so  tardily  rising  to  the  bait. 

"  Then  I'll  need  some  one  to  dig  the  gold  for  me, — 
and  the  ivory,  too." 

"  But  ivory  grows."  He  fenced  manfully,  but  she 
pressed  him  hard. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Chester !  They're  presactly  alike, — 
'cepting  one's  the  paler.  If  one's  formed,  the  other's 
formed ;  if  one  grows,  so  does  the  other.  You  can  have 
it  either  way,  but  not  both  ways.  You  are  contrary 
this  afternoon ;  and  I  never  thought  it  of  you ! " 

"  I'm  being  sweet  as  I  know  how !  Surely  you  don't 
think  I  would  deceive  you  about  a  thing  like  this !  " 

"  No,  I  don't.  I  told  Walter  you  wouldn't.  But 
you  are  acting  queer." 

"  Now  I  shall  tell  you  the  truth.  Ivory  grows  on 
elephants." 

With  a  cold,  unfavoring  stare,  she  walked  with  dig- 
nity to  the  door. 

"  Pray  don't  be  offended,  Miss  Forest.  I  can't  help 
it!" 

"  Is  this  a  time  for  joking,  Mr.  Chester?  " 

"Me  joking!"  He  wondered  what  there  was  es- 
pecial about  the  time. 

"  About  elephants  being  vegetable  gardens,  when  I'm 
a-telling  about  my  cave?  And  me  a-leaving  you !  Wai- 


302  «  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

ter's  too  young  to  go,  but  he  never  laughed.  He  loves 
me!" 

"  I  love  you  too, — better  than  he  does !  " 

"  You  are  not  showing  it,  then.  I'm  a-going  to 
skate  with  him." 

As  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  a  proposal,  he  gal- 
lantly knelt  before  her. 

"  Fair  maiden,  leave  me  not  alone !  Say  thou  lovest 
me?  See  me  at  thy  feet!  Wilt  thou  be  mine?  " 

"  Marry  you,  Mr.  Chester  ?  " 

"  Yea,  dear  one.  And  let  us  live  in  j  oy  supernal 
through  all  the  coming  years !  " 

"All  right,  then.     Come  on." 

At  this  fortuitous  termination  of  his  wooing,  Ches- 
ter was  not  only  amazed,  but  flustered.  He  got  up 
from  his  knees,  and  though  he  took  her  outstretched 
hand,  he  looked, — as  he  felt, — rather  awkward.  The 
citadel  he  had  been  besieging  having  fallen  about  his 
shoulders,  he  was  wondering  how  to  extricate  himself 
from  the  ruins. 

"  Come  on,  Mr.  Chester." 

"  Where  to,  Woody  ?  "  This  was  the  first  time  he 
had  ever  called  Miss  Forest  by  her  nickname. 

"  To  the  preacher's,  of  course,  goosie !  Where  else 
should  we  go  ?  " 

"  But — this  is  so  sudden !  " 

"  Why,  I've  known  it  a  week ;  and  I  dressed  up  a- 
purpose.  So,  come  on !  " 

She  smiled  triumphantly,  and  the  veil  of  masculine 
blindness  fell  from  his  eyes.  He  saw  that  from  the  big 
bow  on  her  head  to  her  little  shoes  she  was  in  bridal 
white.  And  at  the  sight  of  these  confident  prepara- 
tions, a  wave  of  remorse  swept  over  him.  As  his  mother 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  303 

and  brother  had  warned  him,  he  had  gone  too  far.  But 
who  would  have  dreamed  that  little  Greenwoods  would 
really  think  she  could  marry? 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  me  about  it  sooner,  if  you 
knew?  "  he  asked.  And  he  ransacked  his  brains  for  a 
getting-out  place. 

"  Because  you  never  asked  me  sooner.  I  told  you  as 
soon  as  you  asked.  But  I  knew  you  would  ask,  so  I 
just  got  ready  beforehand." 

He  looked  into  her  trusting  eyes  and  groaned.  He 
was  a  tender-hearted  young  Lothario,  and  he  dreaded  to 
hurt  her  or  to  lose  her  esteem.  It  was  a  delicate  situa- 
tion, but  if  Bob  would  help,  a  way  out  of  it  might  be 
found. 

"  What  you  waiting  for,  Mr.  Chester?  Don't  you 
want  to  marry  me?  " 

"  Of  course,  darling ;  but  let's  talk  it  over  first  and 


"  What  for?  I'm  ready.  So  let's  marry  and  pull 
out." 

"  But  I  have  some  things  to  attend  to  first." 

"What?" 

"  Why — er — examinations,  you  know,  and " 

"  You  and  me  are  a-going  to  quit  school." 

"  But  you  are  so  young,  Woody." 

"  Do  you  want  your  wife  to  go  to  school ! " 

"  I  mean  too  young  to  marry." 

"  I  may  not  be  old  Mr.  Chester,  but  I've  got  plenty 
sense.  I  can  cook  and  sew  and  clean  up.  And  all 
last  summer  I  washed  every  sock  you  wore ! " 

The  pathos  of  this  plea  almost  made  Chester  weep. 
Taking  the  bride-expectant  into  his  arms  he  kissed  her. 
If  she  were  only  a  few  years  older ! 


304  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

"  You  see,  darling,  every  one  will  object.  Little 
girls  your  age  can't  marry.  It  is  against  the  law." 

"  What  made  you  ask  me  then  ?  If  I'm  too  little  to 
be  married,  I'm  too  little  to  be  asked.  I  don't  mind 
about  the  law.  Let's  run  away." 

"  But  that  will  not  be  honorable.  Suppose  we 
speak  to  Bob  about  it?  " 

"  No  use,  I've  done  done  it.  He  won't  let  us.  We'll 
have  to  run  away." 

"  But  when  did  you  ask  him  ?  We  have  not  been 
engaged  ten  minutes  !  " 

"  Beforehand,  of  course.  I  knew  we  would  get  en- 
gaged." 

"  But  you  usurped  my  privilege.  It's  the  gentle- 
man's place  to  ask.  Now,  before  we  go  any  further,  I 
want  to  have  an " 

"  Looks  like  we  never  are  going  any  further,  but  just 
stay  here  and  talk  forever.  Don't  you  love  me?  I 
knew  none  of  your  family  did,  but  I  thought  you  was 
true.  Have  you  gone  back  on  me?  " 

"  No,  indeed.  Every  one  loves  you,  dear.  You  are 
wrong  about  the  family  ?  " 

"  Your  mamma  hates  me.  She  doesn't  want  me  in 
her  house !  I  stayed  outdoors  all  summer  to  keep  from 
bothering  her,  but  I  can't  stay  outdoors  now.  I  should 
freeze.  So  I  shan't  stay  here  any  more.  I've  put  up 
with  things  for  your  sake,  but  I  believe  you  are  bad 
as  the  rest !  Now  I  am  a-going  to  leave.  If  you  love 
me,  you  can  come  with  me;  if  you  don't,  I  shall  know 
you  are  a  low-down,  storying  flirt !  " 

"  I  will  explain  to  my  mother  and  Bob,  dear,  and 
if " 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  explain.    I  want  you  to  marry 


*<  THE  GREENWOODS  "  305 

me  if  you  love  me,  and  if  you  don't,  I  want  to  know 
why  you  asked  me." 

There  was  no  escaping  the  circle.  If  he  loved  her, 
why  didn't  he  marry  her;  and  if  it  were  wrong  to 
marry  her,  why  had  he  asked  her?  The  case  called  for 
Bob, — Bob,  who  must  smooth  things  over  and  be  more 
lenient  in  the  future. 

"  You  see,  Woody,  as  I  can't  marry  my  brother's 
ward  without  asking  him " 

"  Ask  him  then,  Mr.  Chester.  You  are  grown,  and 
it  may  do  some  good.  Only, — talk  up  to  him  like  a 
man.  If  he  mentions  my  size,  tell  him  he's  a  burning 
coward,  and  size  or  no  size,  I've  got  more  sense  than 
any  married  woman  in  town !  Say  you  like  'em  young 
and  little,  and  it's  none  of  his  cross-eyed  business ! " 

"  Why,  Woody !  " 

"  Will  you  let  him  insult  your  wife  about  her  size?  " 

"Perish  the  thought!" 

"  Well,  I  hope  so !  Lots  of  little  folks  have  married. 
A  queen  did  once  when  she  was  only  five ;  and  I'm  years 
older  than  that.  So  you  tell  him  to  shut  up  with  his 
foolishness, — that  I've  got  as  much  sense  as  any 
queen ! " 

A  more  determined  fiancee  Chester  had  never  known. 
He  looked  almost  haggard  as  he  went  to  find  his 
brother.  Remembering  that  Bob  had  discountenanced 
these  attentions  to  his  ward,  Chester  doubted  if  he 
would  do  his  part  in  this  tragic  little  comedy. 

Bob  seemed  more  amenable,  though,  than  Chester  had 
expected.  He  promised  to  open  The  Greenwoods'  eyes, 
to  spare  her  feelings,  and  to  help  Chester  out  of  the 
scrape.  He  was  generous,  too, — not  even  asking 


306  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

Chester  not  to  offend  again.*  He  laughingly  returned 
with  him  to  the  den. 

And  Bob  was  as  good  as  his  word:  for  not  only  to 
The  Greenwoods'  surprise,  but  to  Chester's  as  well,  he 
gave  his  full  and  free  consent.  He  even  added  his 
blessing. 

It  was  Chester  who  hurt  The  Greenwoods'  feelings, — 
for  Chester  said  a  bad,  bad  word. 


CHAPTER  XL 

SHORTLY  afterward  Mrs.  Kingtson  entered  the  room 
and  was  shocked  to  find  her  sons  engaged  in  what  Robert 
smilingly  assured  her  was  "  a  sparring  match."  Chester 
was  not  smiling,  though,  and  she  was  not  deceived.  They 
were  fighting  like  two  common  rowdies, — and  in  their 
mother's  home! 

She  was  too  agitated  to  ask  any  questions,  but  none 
were  needed.  The  Greenwoods  was  not  present,  but 
who  else  could  have  made  Mrs.  Kingston's  sons  for- 
get the  respect  they  owed  their  mother?  Ever  since 
Walter's  attack  upon  his  brother  Mrs.  Kingston  had 
been  dreading  this.  Now  it  had  come!  Sinking  into  a 
chair  she  regarded  her  boys  with  pale-faced  reproach. 

Robert,  cool  and  self-possessed, — who  had  only  begun 
fighting  on  the  defensive, — came  penitently  and  put  his 
arm  around  her. 

"  Don't  worry,  mother,"  he  said ;  "  this  isn't  serious. 
Just  an  incident  in  the  guardianship  of  The  Green- 
woods. But  if  you  want  to  beat  us  both,  I'll  fetch  the 
stick  and  take  mine,  and  then  I'll  hold  Chess  while 
you  give  him  his !  " 

Chester  had  cut  a  sorry  figure  in  both  love  and  war. 
He  knew  he  was  in  the  wrong,  but  thought  others  were 
too.  "Laugh,  if  you  want  to,  Bob,"  he  exclaimed, 
angrily  jerking  on  his  coat.  "You  turned  the  joke 
on  me  very  neatly.  But  what  have  you  done  to  The 
Greenwoods  ?  " 

"  Brought  her  to  her  senses.  Isn't  it  time  you  came 
to  yours?  Your  mother  is  worried!" 

307 


308  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

"  We  are  discussing  The  Greenwoods,  I  believe !  " 

At  her  relative  insignificance,  the  mother  trembled. 
Unheedingly,  Chester  continued.  "  You  may  think  it 
was  our  innocent  little  jest  that  made  Woody  decide 
to  marry.  You  are  wrong.  All  she  wanted  was  to  get 
away  from  you  and  mother!  She  is  tired  of  living  in 
a  house  where  she  knows  she  isn't  wanted !  " 

Mrs.  Kingston's  white  face  grew  paler,  and  Rob- 
ert was  indignant. 

"  Look  here,  Chess !  In  your  zeal  for  my  ward  you 
are  forgetting  your  duty  to  your  mother." 

"  I  am  talking  of  the  treatment  your  ward  has  re- 
ceived in  my  mother's  home !  "  Chester  was  thor- 
oughly unstrung,  "  There  are  only  two  people  in  the 
world  whom  The  Greenwoods  loves ;  Miss  Faunce  and 
me.  You  took  her  away  from  Miss  Faunce  to  fill  up 
your  pocketbook;  and  brought  her  here  and  turned 
her  over  to  the  mercy  of  Marie  and  the  servants !  You 
have  the  money, — what  do  you  care  about  her?  The 
only  pains  you  have  ever  taken  has  been  to  see  that 
she  hasn't  worried  your  mother  nor  sister !  I  am  the 
only  one  who  has  shown  her  any  consideration.  In  re- 
turn she  loved  me, — she  trusted  me!  Now  you've 
brought  her  to  her  senses!  Well,  you  have  put  the 
servants  in  Miss  Faunce's  place.  Whom  will  you  put 
in  mine  ?  " 

"  Chester,  you  are  speaking  wildly !  "  expostulated 
Mrs.  Kingston. 

"  Haven't  you  hated  her,  mother,  from  the  minute 
she  tripped  out  behind  Bob  last  June,  to  be  intro- 
duced? " 

"  How  can  you  ask  such  a  question  of  me,  Chester  ? 
I  don't  understand  her;  I  have  complained  of  her  as  I 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  309 

would  have  of  any  child  that  was  naughty.  But  what 
cause  have  I  to  hate  her?  " 

" 1  don't  know,  mother.  But  since  she  was  orphaned 
for  your  brother's  sake,  and  torn  from  her  friends  to 
fill  your  son's  pocketbook,  it  looks  as  if  you  might  have 
tried  to  love  her !  " 

"  You've  said  enough  about  that,  Chess !  If  my  ward 
has  any  complaints  to  make,  let  her  come  to  me ! "  in- 
terrupted Robert. 

"  She'll  never  do  it !  If  you  wait  for  that  child  to 
complain,  you  will  wait  too  long.  But  I  advise  you 
to  get  her  to  more  congenial  surroundings  at  once !  " 

And  Chester  left  the  room  and,  without  another 
word,  returned  to  college.  Robert,  absolutely  unim- 
pressed, angrily  watched  him  leave,  but  Mrs.  Kingston 
was  conscience-stricken.  Every  reproach  had  gone 
home,  and  she  buried  her  face  in  her  hands. 

Robert  put  his  arms  about  her. 

"  Don't  heed  this  nonsense,  Mother.  Chess  didn't 
know  what  he  was  talking  about.  He  didn't  mean  half 
he  said.  If  you'd  only  waited  five  minutes  longer  to 
enter,  he'd  have  been  more  tractable." 

"  Robert,  don't  mention  that  fight !  " 

"  Then   you  mustn't  worry." 

"For  my  own  son  to  accuse  me  of  hating  an  or- 
phan child!  Do  you  think  I  have  been  unkind?  " 

"  If  I  did,  I  should  have  taken  her  away." 

"  Have  I  impressed  you  as  hating  her?  " 

He  hesitated  and  her  heart  sank. 

"  You  haven't  been  exactly  cordial,  Mother,  but 
Woody  is  difficult.  I  suppose  she  has  rejected  your 
friendship,  as  she  has  mine.  Do  you  hate  her?  " 

"  I  do  not  understand  her,  and  she  never  responds  to 


310  "  THE     GREENWOODS  " 

my  advances,  but  I  am  far  from  hating  her.  If  she 
had  ever  needed  help  or  sympathy,  my  heart  would 
have  gone  out  to  her.  I  don't  know  what  Chester 
means.  Instead  of  neglecting  her,  I  have  actually  en- 
vied her  her  facility  for  winning  love.  Still, — I  haven't 
treated  her  as  I  should  have  treated  Captain  Forest's 
daughter.  Chester  was  right." 

"  You  couldn't,  mother.  Woody  stands  squarely  on 
her  own  little  feet,  and  must  be  liked  or  disliked  for 
herself  alone.  She  can't  be  reduced  to  the  position  of 
somebody's  relative." 

"  But  I  have  been  remiss  in  my  duty.  And  your 
uncle,"  Mrs.  Kingston  faltered.  "  Of  course  Sylvia  is 
better  off  here,  but  if  she  doesn't  realize  it — Robert, 
I  am  not  blaming  Mark!  He  had  a  reason  for  moving 
the  child,  and  I  know  it  was  a  good  one.  He  never 
forgot  his  obligations,  but, — if  that  woman  understood 
Sylvia,  it's  a  pity  he  didn't  leave  the  child  there !  " 

Robert  left  his  mother's  side  and  stood  before  the 
mantel. 

"  If  it's  Chester's  amiable  insinuation  about  my  pock- 
etbook  that's  disturbing  you,  mother,  you  may  set 
your  fears  at  rest!  If  I  had  refused  to  accept  the 
terms  of  the  will,  Woody  would  have  been  sent  back  to 
the  convent." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  the  woman  would  have  aban- 
doned her  ?  " 

"  No,  but  Miss  Faunce  was  a  minor,  and  not  in  the 
good  graces  of  her  family.  They  wanted  to  punish 
her." 

"For  what?" 

"  For  jilting  a  millionaire!  " 


"THE   GREENWOODS"  311 

Mrs.  Kingston  looked  thoughtful.  She  had  never 
before  considered  the  jilting  from  Miss  Faunae's  view- 
point. 

"  Chester  inferred  that  I  could  hate  my  brother's 
enemies,  but  not  love  his  friends.  But,  Robert,  I  had 
cause  to  be  prejudiced  against  Miss  Faunce.  She 
jilted  your  uncle,  and  six  weeks  later  she  jilted  another 
man.  I  have  never  met  the  young  lady;  she  may  be 
charming,  but  she  seemed  to  be  skimming  over  her  love 
affairs  too  lightly  and  too  rapidly  for  a  well-balanced 
young  woman." 

"  She  is  not  unbalanced  though, — not  light,  nor 
fast."  He  spoke  coldly. 

"Is  she  worthy?"  * 

"  Of  what  ?  "  He  knew  that  his  mother  meant  worthy 
to  be  his  wife,  but  he  was  not  taking  kindly  to  her  be- 
lated interest. 

"  To  mould  a  young  child's  character?  " 

"  She  is ;  but.  as  she  is  not  to  mould  The  Greenwoods', 
I  fail  to  see  the  reason  for  your  inquiry." 

"  Do  you  still  love  her,  son  ?  " 

His  face  was  inscrutable,  but  in  its  inscrutability 
she  read  her  answer. 

"  Why  are  you  asking  these  questions,  now,  mother? 
What  difference  does  it  make — now?  She  has  gone  her 
way ;  I  have  gone  mine.  All  that  is  over !  " 

He,  too,  left  the  room,  and  she  sat  and  looked  in 
the  fire. 

All  was  over  between  Robert  and  Miss  Faunce,  but 
Mrs.  Kingston  was  not  relieved,  Her  prayers  had 
triumped  over  the  orphan's, — and  The  Greenwoods  had 
kept  her  independence.  Mrs.  Kingston  had  never  in- 
tended to  accept  the  ultimatum,  but  had  believed  that 


she  could  at  any  time  do  so.  Now  it  was  too  late.  All 
that  she  feared  was  coming  to  pass.  Her  sons  were 
at  daggers'  points;  Robert,  still  determined;  The 
Greenwoods,  still  unsubdued. 

And  Robert  loved  Miss  Faunce! 

The  year  of  grief  had  passed,  and  Mrs.  Kingston 
had  taken  off  her  mourning.  She  could  no  longer  say, 
"  A  year  ago  dear  Mark  was  here, — said  this, — did 
that."  Because  a  year  ago  he  had  been  lost, — some- 
where,— in  infinity.  He  had  formed  new  ties,  was  en- 
gaged in  new  activities,  which  she  at  present  could  not 
share;  or,  if  consciousness  had  ended,  he  could  no 
longer  be  affected  by  what  his  sister  thought  or  by 
what  his  nephew  did. 

Mark  was  far  away;  Robert  was  near.  One  was 
her  brother ;  the  other  was  her  son.  If  both  living  had 
loved  the  same  woman,  with  whom  would  she  have  sym- 
pathized? With  Robert!  So,  since  Mark  could  not  be 
injured  by  Robert's  success,  why  should  her  sympathy 
be  withheld  ?  But  now, — it  was  too  late ! 

Marie  entered,  weeping  convulsively,  with  this  note 
from  The  Greenwoods: 

Your  kindness  and  hospitality  are  extremely  appreciated. 
But  I  don't  love  nobody  in  this  family.  Dr.  Kingston  promised 
me  a  treat.  And  this  is  it.  I  have  gone  to  live  with  Miss 
Ardelia  Wile. 

The  threatened  calamity  was  unexpectedly  stayed. 
All  was  over  between  Robert  and  Miss  Faunce, — and 
now  The  Greenwoods  was  leading  him  to  Ardelia ! 

The  orphan  was  followed  by  Mrs.  Kingston's  bless- 
ing. 


CHAPTER    XLI 

THE  GREENWOODS  had  gone  to  live  with  Miss  Ardelia 
Wile! 

Society,  knowing  the  terms  of  Mark  Perkins'  will, 
drew  its  own  conclusions,  so  did  Frances, — but  Mrs. 
Kingston  rejoiced. 

Society  was  mistaken,  though,  and  Frances  had  her 
pains  for  naught,  while  Mrs.  Kingston  rejoiced  too 
soon;  for  The  Greenwoods  came  back  again!  The 
Greenwoods  had, — apparently, — raised  Mrs.  King- 
ston's hopes  only  to  show  the  poor  woman  their  futil- 
ity. 

But  the  Greenwoods  did  not  willingly  return. 

She  "  never  intended  to  live  with  the  Kingstons 
again  and  wouldn't  marry  one  of  'em  if  they  was  the 
last  man  on  earth ! "  She  was  "  a-going  to  be  an  old 
maid, — like  Miss  Ardelia."  At  least,  that  is  what  she 
told  Ardelia. 

Severally  they  tried  to  induce  the  wanderer  to  re- 
turn. Chester  called  with  explanations,  candy,  flow- 
ers, and  regrets ;  but  all  were  futile. 

"What's  the  use  in  talking,  Mr.  Chester?    You  said 

*  damn,'    and    you    looked  *  damn,'    and    you    meant 

*  damn ! '     And  that's  no  word  for  a  gentleman  to  say 
when  the  lady's  guardian  what  he  loves  says  they  can 
marry.    Besides,  if  you  are  sorry,  we  can  marry  now." 

"  But  they  will  put  us  in  j  ail !  " 

"Oh,  shuckings!  You  can't  scare  me  with  jails! 
Why,  they  used  to  put  me  in  jail  every  time  I  ran  away 

313 


314  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

from  the  old  woman  what  lived  in  St.  Louis — when  they 
could  catch  me.  And  I  liked  it  there!  They  had  a 
special  corner  for  me  to  play  in,  and  the  matron  and 
cops  was  perfect  darlings.  So  jails  are  no  excuse. 
You  needn't  marry  me  unless  you  want  to,  but  don't 
try  to  fool  me  any  more." 

"  I  know  now,"  she  told  Miss  Ardelia  after  Chester 
had  gone,  "  why  it  is  wrong  to  tell  fibs,  even  when  they 
are  polite.  It's  because  the  polite  kind  hurt  worse  than 
any, — when  you  find  them  out." 

Walter  came,  too;  but  she  turned  a  cold  ear  to  his 
pleadings.  He  had  missed  his  chance.  Knowing  how 
that  interview  with  Chester  must  end,  he  had  waited 
outside  the  door.  When,  scorned  by  the  one  she  had 
trusted,  she  had  rushed  madly  out,  he  had  jeered  and 
derided  her!  Had  said: 

"I  told  you  so." 

All  called,  from  the  Colonel  to  the  cook,  and  last  of  all 
came  Robert, — and  got  her. 

Immediately  on  reaching  home,  Robert  sought  his 
mother : 

"  May  I  ask,"  he  inquired  coldly,  "  if  you  authorized 
The  Greenwoods  to  offer  my  hand  to  Ardelia?  " 

"  You  Icnow  I  didn't,  Robert !    Surely  the  child " 

"  She  assured  us  of  your  consent  to  our  nuptials, 
and  also  of  the  chambermaid's.  And  one  of  the  stable- 
boys  is  in  favor  of  it,  too.  She  says  we  are  both  old 
enough  to  marry,  and  objects  seriously  to  a  further 
postponement.  In  fact,  she  threw  me  at  Ardelia's  head 
and  Ardelia  at  mine,  till  Ardelia  was  on  the  verge  of 
tears,  and  I  had  to  run  away  in  self-defense.  Why 
have  you  discussed  my  affairs  with  her,  Mother?  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  might  have  retorted  that  The  Green- 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  315 

woods  had  turned  the  joke  upon  Robert  as  neatly  as 
he  had  upon  Chester,  but  she  was  too  taken  aback  to 
think  of  it.  She  had  said  something  to  her  about  Rob- 
ert and  Ardelia,  but  had  not  expected  her  to  negotiate 
the  match. 

"  Robert !  I  never  heard  of  such  presumption !  Poor 
Ardelia !  Sylvia  seems  to  have  the  knack  of  always  say- 
ing the  wrong  thing  at  the  most  inopportune  time.' 
She  is  very  wearisome." 

Mrs.  Kingston  had  had  as  much  of  The  Green- 
woods' company  as  she  could  possibly  endure.  Any- 
thing seemed  preferable  to  a  continuation  of  it. 
There  was  dissension  at  home,  gossip  abroad,  and 
laughter  everywhere, — always  at  the  expense  of  Mrs. 
Kingston,  or  some  member  of  her  household. 

"  She  is  indeed !  "  agreed  Robert,  so  heartily  that  his 
mother  was  frightened.  Robert  had  to  endure  The 
Greenwoods,  or  lose  his  fortune.  Not  knowing  the  num- 
ber of  the  luckless  guardians,  Mrs.  Kingston  had 
fearlessly  opened  his  eyes  to  his  ward's  iniquities,  but 
now  that  his  own  interests  were  at  stake,  she  tried  to 
put  blinkers  on  him. 

Mrs.  Kingston  was  a  regulator.  She  would  temper 
joy  and  cheer  up  sadness;  mitigate  harshness  and  prod 
good  nature;  put  a  weight  on  speed  and  give  the  lash 
to  slowness.  Hating  extremes,  her  ideals  were  prettiness, 
placidity,  and  mediocrity.  When  a  beauty  was  named 
in  her  presence,  she  always  praised  the  beauty's  plainer 
sister.  She  now  applied  herself  to  toning  down  The 
Greenwoods'  faults. 

"  She  seems  wearisome  to  us,  son,  but  that  is  only 
because  she  is  at  variance  with  her  environment." 

"  Exactly.    And  unless  she  changes  for  the  better,  I 


316  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

shall  shut  her  up  in  a  convent  and  keep  her  there  till 
she  is  twenty-one." 

"  How  about  your  promise  to  your  uncle?  " 

"  I  have  tried  to  keep  it.  Nothing  else  can  be  ex- 
pected of  me." 

"  But  your  fortune,  Robert !  " 

"  If  possible,  I  will  compromise  with  the  other  heirs ; 
if  not,  I  will  go  to  work.  I  would  rather  plow  than  try 
to  keep  that  child  in  order !  " 

"  Why,  Robert !  Don't  let  one  small  girl  get  the 
better  of  you.  Be  a  man!  And  Sylvia  is  improving. 
She's  never  been  really  naughty.  She  just  looks  at 
things  from  the  wrong  angle,  and  hasn't  sufficient  re- 
gard for  custom  and  precedent.  She  is  very  consider- 
ate,— so  unobtrusively  so  that  it  had  almost  escaped 
even  me.  You  need  a  wife  to  help  you.  It  takes  a  wo- 
man to  understand  a  child  like  her." 

"  You  haven't  understood  her." 

"  I  have  been  absorbed  in  Marie ;  but — Miss  Faunce 
did." 

He  stared,  and  when  he  spoke  his  words  came  slowly. 

"  What  has  that  to  do  with  the  case  ?  Do  you  want 
me  to  marry — Miss  Faunce?  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  could  easily  have  died  for  her  princi- 
ples,— if  death  had  merely  been  a  matter  of  hanging  or 
burning.  She  came  of  Puritan  stock.  But  she  had 
lived  in  the  house  with  The  Greenwoods  for  ten  months 
now,  and  her  endurance  was  being  ground  to  powder. 
She  was  not  yet  reconciled  to  Frances,  but  she  wanted 
to  get  rid  of  her  tormentor  and  Robert  to  keep  his 
fortune. 

"  It's  a  pity  Mark  didn't  let  her  keep  the  child.  It 
might  have  been  hard  on  Miss  Faunce,  but  we  were  his 


«  THE  GREENWOODS  "  317 

next  of  kin  and  he  might  have  had  some  regard  for  us ! 
Mark  was  wont  to  show  me  more  consideration." 

"  Haven't  your  views  changed  considerably, 
Mother?  " 

"  In  what  respect  ?  " 

"  In  respect  to  Uncle  Mark's  motives  in  giving  me 
The  Greenwoods  ?  " 

"  I  know  nothing  of  his  motives.  But  he  could  not 
have  been  prompted  by  a  desire  to  punish  Miss  Faunce. 
If  I  ever  thought  so,  it  was  before  I  knew  The  Green- 
woods !  A  sweet  child,  but  incomprehensible !  " 

She  spoke  with  feeling.  Any  one  who  would  take 
The  Greenwoods  away  from  Mrs.  Kingston's  home  and 
keep  Robert's  fortune  in  the  family  was  Mrs.  King- 
ston's friend.  Mrs.  Kingston  had  never  before  con- 
templated the  possibility  of  the  fortune  being  lost.  Ah ! 
The  Greenwoods'  hands  were  powerful,  if  empty. 

"  You  need  a  rest,  Robert.  Get  away  from  the  child 
for  a  while." 

"  And  where  will  I  leave  her?  " 

"  With  Miss  Faunce.  Didn't  you  promise  her  you 
would?" 

He  listened  in  a  sullen  daze.  Frances  had  wounded 
him  to  the  quick  by  not  offering  to  take  his  ward  to 
the  wedding.  He  failed  to  understand  that  to  reopen  a 
correspondence  she  believed  he  had  closed, — to  ask  to 
be  entrusted  with  a  child  he  had  forcibly  taken  from 
her, — would  have  been  a  greater  strain  than  her  pride 
could  bear. 

"  I  can  get  along  without  Miss  Faunce !  "  he  said. 

And  turning  his  back,  he  walked  away. 


CHAPTER  XLII 

SEEING, — at  last, — that  though  The  Greenwoods' 
pockets  were  empty  her  hands  held  Robert's  fortune, 
Mrs.  Kingston  sedulously  looked  for  the  child's  good 
qualities,  in  order  to  point  them  out  to  Robert  and 
bring  about  a  more  kindly  feeling  between  the  two. 

This  was  soothing  to  Mrs.  Kingston's  conscience,  but 
trying  on  The  Greenwoods'  nerves.  The  latter  was  al- 
ways being  drawn  into  the  family  circle,  and  she  pre- 
ferred the  society  of  the  Happy  Children. 

However,  she  smiled  at  Mrs.  Kingston, — and  dodged 
her  at  every  chance.  She  promised  to  be  friends  with 
Walter,  but  sweethearts, — never;  and  in  answer  to 
Chester's  daily  tribute,  she  at  length  wrote: 

DEAB  SIB: 

When  a  gentleman  has  fooled  a  lady  and  fooled  her  bad  they 
can't  never  again  be  beaux  together  any  more.  So  I  thank  you 
for  the  many  lovely  tokens  of  esteem  you  send  but  what  is  the 
use?  If  you  must  send  me  presents  though  let  it  be  candy. 
A  lady  can  eat  candy  but  flowers  are  a  sign  of  respect. 

Very  respectably, 
Miss  FOREST. 

Yet  amid  all  these  changes  one  there  was  who  re- 
mained unaltered.  That  one  was  Robert,  and  the 
grammar-room  yawned  for  Woody  as  of  yore.  Against 
it  neither  protests  nor  pleadings  could  prevail;  noth- 
ing counted  but  being  good !  Woody,  however,  was  not 
given  to  protesting  beforehand  or  to  sulking  after- 
ward. The  punishment  would  have  been  more  effica- 
cious had  it  been  taken  more  seriously.  As  it  was,  she 

318 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  319 

accepted  it  as  cheerfully  as  she  could, — and  forgot  it. 

It  was  not  the  closet  she  objected  to  now,  but  just 
the  grammar. 

Mrs.  Kingston,  knowing  that  Robert  was  daily  grow- 
ing more  impatient,  tried  again  to  intervene.  "  Why 
were  you  detained  after  school  to-day,  Sylvia?"  she 
asked  one  day  when  the  double  confinement  had  been  ex- 
ceptionably  rigorous. 

"  For  dropping  a  pencil,  Mrs.  Kingston." 

"  Did  you  drop  it  intentionally?  " 

"  No,  Mrs.  Kingston ;  but  the  teacher  thought  I  did." 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  explain  to  Robert  that  your 
offense  was  unavoidable?  He  doesn't  want  to  be  un- 
just, dear!  " 

"  He  isn't,  Mrs.  Kingston.  And  I  didn't  explain 
about  the  pencil,  because  he  didn't  lock  me  up  for  that 
but  for  being  kep'  in." 

"  But,  child,  you  should  not  even  have  been  kept  in 
for  that !  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  was  puzzled.  She  thought  the  child 
strangely  submissive  for  one  who  was  making  such  a 
fight  for  her  "  rights." 

"  That's  what  I've  been  saying  all  the  time,  Mrs. 
Kingston.  The  pesky  rules  are  wrong !  " 

"  I  don't  mean  that  you  should  never  be  detained, 
Sylvia,  or  that  the  rules  are  not  needed,  only  that  you 
should  not  be  punished  for  an  involuntary  act." 

"  But  rules  are  rules,"  said  the  Greenwoods,  "  and 
kep'  in  is  kep'  in.  I'd  lots  rather  be  kep'  in  for  drop- 
ping pencils  than  for  talking;  for  I've  gone  for  days 
without  dropping  a  pencil,  and  I've  never  gone  a  single 
one  without  talking, — not  since  I  learnt  how !  " 

To  understand  Woody  was  beyond  Mrs.  Kingston's 


320  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

power  of  comprehension,  and  the  lady  sadly  realized 
it. 

"  She  needs  some  one  old  enough  to  understand  life, 
and  young  enough  to  understand  her  point  of  view. 
Some  one  she  loves  and  trusts, — who  can  explain  in 
terms  that  she  can  understand." 

And  Mrs.  Kingston  thought  again  of  Frances 
Faunce. 


CHAPTER  XLIII 

MARIE  had  the  grip. 

The  Greenwoods  was  tired  of  Marie  and  of  all 
Marie's  kindred,  and  her  heart  was  cold  to  Marie's 
suffering.  Didn't  Marie  love  to  suffer?  But  visiting 
the  sick  is  a  Scriptural  injunction;  so  The  Greenwoods 
heeded  it.  Then,  when  she  saw  the  array  of  medicine 
bottles,  a  fellow-feeling  trembled  into  life.  She  offered 
her  services  immediately. 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  throw  that  dope  into  the  slop- 
jar,  Marie,  and  fill  them  bottles  up  with  syrup? " 

The  visit  had  been  made  in  Mrs.  Kingston's  absence. 

"  Of  course  not !  Do  you  think  I'm  pretending  this 
sickness  ?  " 

"  Gracious,  no !    Excuse  me !  " 

"  How  can  I  get  well  if  I  don't  take  medicine,  Green- 
woods ?  " 

"  Why,  I  don't  know ;  but  I  hate  it  myself.  Yet, — 
it's  not  the  dope  so  much.  But  don't  they  hurt  you 
when  they  hold  your  nose?  " 

Marie  was  insulted. 

"  They  don't  hold  my  nose !    I  take  it  like  a  lady !  " 

"  Gee  whiz !  How  silly !  Why,  the  nicer  you  take 
it  the  more  they'll  give!  You'd  better  howl,  Marie. 
France  gave  me  some  once, — nasty  smelling  oil !  But  by 
the  time  I  got  through  howling  and  kicking  and  crawl- 
ing under  the  bed  and  jumping  out  the  window,  her  and 
brother  Raymond  and  Sambo  and  the  cook  was  so 
tired  they  didn't  get  more  than  two  drops  down  me. 

321 


322  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

And, — "  she  made  a  wry  face, — "  I  can  taste  them 
yet!" 

Marie  was  emulative:  especially  of  The  Greenwoods, 
who  originated  the  fads  and  fashions  that  swayed  the 
junior  circles  of  Wayville  society,  where  the  prevail- 
ing idea  of  comeliness  was  red  hair  and  freckles,  and 
where  no  beauty  that  was  not  dish-faced  could  pass 
muster.  Word  was  passed  now  that  medicine, — like 
parents, — was  de  trap.  Marie  liked  to  assimilate  these 
new  ideas  before  they  became  the  mode.  So  now  she 
listened  with  interest,  but  answered  in  seeming  scorn: 

"  I  never  howl,  thanks !  " 

"  Then  I  hope  'twill  cure  you." 

The  Greenwoods  heard  Mrs.  Kingston  coming  and 
made  ready  to  go.  "  Only  I  hope  the  Doctor  won't 
give  you  the  kind  what  sets  carpets  afire,  for  it  will 
fix  your  withinsides.  And  if  you've  got  typhoid  fever, 
don't  never  let  him  find  it  out !  " 

After  that  Woody  was  tactfully  kept  from  the  room 
until  convalescence  was  reached,  when  her  coming  was 
hailed  with  relief  by  all  concerned.  The  minutes  were 
counted  till  her  return  from  school,  and  both  invalid 
and  nurses  felt  a  grudge  against  the  grammar-room. 

Yet  The  Greenwoods  preferred  it  to  discontented, 
fretful  little  Marie.  School,  the  closet,  and  then  Marie 
were  pressing  hard  on  her.  Mrs.  Kingston,  watching 
her  efforts  to  please,  began  to  understand  Marie's  in- 
fatuation, and  the  lady's  kindness  was  at  last  becoming 
genuine.  She  even  tried, — ineffectually,  however, — to 
stand  between  the  child  and  Marie's  exactions. 

Saturday  and  Sunday  came,  when  neither  school  nor 
closet  interrupted  The  Greenwoods'  entertainment  of 
Marie.  For  once  Woody  regretted  both.  And  how 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  323 

she  longed  for  the  Happy  Children !  Mrs.  Kingston 
grew  more  ashamed  of  her  tyrannical  little  daughter 
every  hour,  but  her  interposition  was  half-hearted. 

"  Don't  let  her  impose  on  you,  Woody ! "  was  all  she 
said. 

"  She  doesn't  impose  on  me,  Mrs.  Kingston.  She 
can't.  I  just  give  up  to  her  a-purpose,  because  she 
is  sick." 

"  She  is  nearly  well  now,  though,  and  must  not  be 
selfish." 

"  She's  still  sick  enough  to  take  medicine,  and  how 
much  sicker  do  you  want  her  to  be?  I'm  worse'n  her 
when  I  am  sick !  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  smiled  unbelievingly.  Even  when  she 
had  thought  the  worst  of  Woody  she  had  not  con- 
sidered the  child  selfish. 

"  And  she's  in  a  bad  enough  fix  when  she's  well.  So 
think  how  she  must  feel  now !  " 

Mrs.  Kingston  looked  surprised. 

"  Marie  never  has  any  fun,  and  she  can't  learn  how, 
— 'cept  when  she's  with  me,  and  then  it's  just  my  fun 
leaking  out  to  her.  She  can't  understand  fun.  It's 
like  the  sums  in  the  back  of  the  book  when  you  haven't 
learnt  the  first  part.  There  must  be  something  she 
ought  to  learn  first,  to  make  the  fun  come  easy." 

A  light  shot  through  Mrs.  Kingston's  mind  and  re- 
vealed a  truth:  that  happiness  is  the  end  of  man,  and 
duty  a  rudiment  that  must  be  mastered  in  its  attain- 
ment. She  had  always  thought  that  duty  was  the  end 
and  happiness  the  interference.  Yet,  what  is  duty  but 
making  others  happy?  And  if  it  isn't  worth  while  for 
one  self,  why  is  it  for  others? 

Mrs.  Kingston  had  wanted  Marie  to  be  happy,  and 


324  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

had  sated  her  with  praise,  gifts,  and  privileges.  Think- 
ing that  duty  and  happiness  conflicted,  she  had  left 
duty  out.  And  Marie  had  missed  happiness,  because 
she  had  skipped  the  most  important  lesson  in  the  art. 

Was  this,  mused  the  mother,  why  Woody  was  happy 
even  under  adverse  circumstances?  Had  she  passed 
her  initiation,  learnt  the  rudiments,  served  her  appren- 
ticeship, and  gained  a  knowledge  that  the  world  could 
not  take  away? 

"  I  bet,"  continued  The  Greenwoods,  "  that  that's 
why  Marie  hasn't  any  Kingdom." 

Mrs.  Kingston  fairly  jumped. 

"What  is  a  Kingdom,  Woody?" 

"  Mine's  a  secret  place  I  go  to  when  I'm  tired  of 
meat  folks  and  things  don't  go  to  suit  me.  It's  where 
the  Happy  Children  live." 

"  And  who  are  they  ?  "     Mrs.  Kingston  was  uneasy. 

"  Just  the  Happy  Children, — not  human  children, 
you  know." 

"  Not  human !  " 

"  Well,  maybe  they  was  human  once,  but  they've  got 
loose  from  their  meat.  Walter  calls  'em  *  spooks.'  " 

Marie,  having  heard  all  this  before,  was  calm  and 
cool,  but  Mrs.  Kingston  felt  a  vibration  at  the  roots 
of  her  hair. 

"  And  do  you  see  them?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Kingston ;  every  time  I  go  to  my  King- 
dom." 

"  Where  is  your  Kingdom,  Greenwoods  ?  " 

"In  California." 

Mrs.  Kingston  was  shocked  at  the  inner  life  the 
orphan  had  been  permitted  to  lead  in  her  well-regulated, 
modern  home.  She  was  relieved  at  finding  herself  on 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  325 

solid  earth  again.  "  Have  you  ever  been  to  California, 
dear?" 

"  Why,  I  go  most  every  day." 

"  How  do  you  manage  it?  "  Mrs.  Kingston  was 
both  amused  and  troubled. 

"  Through  cracks.  Most  any  old  crack  will  do,  but 
the  best  one  is  in -the  grammar-room,  behind  the  door." 

Mrs.  Kingston  grasped  the  arm  of  her  chair  and 
tried  to  retain  her  presence  of  mind.  While  she  had 
been  complaining  of  the  child's  merriment, — trying  to 
stop  the  leak  of  happiness ;  while  Robert  had  been  try- 
ing to  make  Woody  more  serious,  an  orphan  child,  sur- 
rounded by  Christian  people,  had  been  driven  to 
"  spooks  "  for  comfort. 

"  No,  any  old  crack  won't  do,"  said  Marie  skepti- 
cally, "  Harriet  and  I  tried  it.  Brother  Bob,"  en- 
viously, "  won't  let  anybody  in  the  grammar-room  but 
you;  but  we  found  a  crack  at  Harriet's,  and  most 
knocked  all  the  plaster  off  the  walls  trying  to  get 
through.  It  can't  be  done,"  she  finished,  with  an  air  of 
scientific  finality. 

"  Yes,  it  can,  Marie.     It's  easy  when  you  know  how." 

"  How  big  must  the  crack  be  ?  " 

"  Not  too  big.     About  the  size  of  a  hair." 

"  Well,  we  couldn't  do  it." 

Mrs.  Kingston  was  thankful. 

"  Maybe  you  didn't  go  about  it  right.  Maybe  you 
tried  to  take  your  meat  \hrough.  You  can't  get  your 
meat  through  a  crack  that  size." 

"  How  do  you  keep  from  it, — if  you  go  through  ?  " 

"  Just  get  out  of  your  skin,  and  leave  your  meat  be- 
hind." 

That  let  Marie  out.     The  directions,  while  explicit, 


326  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

were  difficult  for  the  average  person  to  follow.  And 
Marie  was  an  average  person.  That  very  process  of 
getting  out  of  the  skin, — so  casually  mentioned, — was 
beyond  her.  Marie  gave  up. 

"  I  can't  do  it,  and  I  want  to  stay  in  my  skin  any- 
how. If  you  leave  your  skin  and  meat  behind,  what's 
left?" 

"Your  inside  body.  That's  what  does  the  enjoy- 
ing." 

Mrs.  Kingston  articulated  faintly,  but  had  recovered 
her  voice.  "  What  is  the  inside  body,  Greenwoods  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  just  call  'em  *  insides  and  meats  '  for  short," 
explained  Woody  readily.  "  It's  in  the  funeral  service 
what  they  said  over  Papa  and  Steppie.  *  There  is  a 
natural  body  and  there  is  a  spiritual  body.'  Two 
bodies,  you  see.  Now  the  natural  body  is  made  of  meat 
and  belongs  to  this  world;  but  the  spiritual  body  is 
made  of  celestial  stuff  and  belongs  to  heaven.  When  a 
girl  is  living  in  this  world  her  spiritual  body  is  inside 
of  her  meat, — most  generally.  So  I  call  'em  *  insides 
and  meats.'  See?  " 

"  Not  exactly,  Woody,"  gasped  Mrs.  Kingston. 
"  How  have  you  found  this  out?  " 

"  With  my  inside  body.  My  people  all  being  inside 
folks,  you  know,  what  have  got  out,  keeps  me  interested 
in  inside  things.  They  seem  inside  'cause  I  know  'em 
with  my  inside  mind.  The  crack  helps.  For  when  I  get 
tired  of  meat,  I  look  hard  and  straight  at  a  crack  in 
the  wall  and  long  for  the  Happy  Children.  At  first 
they  came  through  into  the  grammar-room  to  me;  but 
now  I  go  through  to  them,  and  we  play  and  play  to- 
gether in  the  Inside  Kingdom." 

Mrs.  Kingston's  hard-won  peace  was  at  an  end.     She 


«  THE  GREENWOODS  »  327 

no  longer  worried  about  Marie,  but  about  The  Green- 
woods. Without  doubt,  a  child  that  can  go  through 
cracks  is  a  responsibility. 

Leaving  the  children,  Mrs.  Kingston  went  to  the 
laboratory.  She  wanted  to  see  that  crack,  and  she 
wanted  to  see  Robert.  He  was  not  in  and  the  door 
was  locked;  so,  returning  to  the  house,  she  hung  help- 
lessly over  The  Greenwoods,  fancying  the  child  looked 
pale. 

The  Greenwoods  was  pale, — and  tired.  Monday 
Marie  was  to  return  to  school  and  to-day  was  Sunday; 
so,  seeing  the  privileges  of  invalidism  slipping  from 
her,  she  stretched  them  to  the  farthest  limit.  So  The 
Greenwoods  told  stories  when  Marie  demanded  them; 
played  the  games  Marie  selected ;  soothed  Marie's  feel- 
ings, and  yielded  to  her  exactions  until  weary  of  Marie's 
voice,  with  its  note  of  peevish  mastery. 

Thoroughly  disturbed,  Mrs.  Kingston  vacillated  be- 
tween allowing  The  Greenwoods'  endurance  to  be  taxed 
by  these  impositions  and  setting  her  free  to  seek  relief 
through  cracks ! 

Mrs.  Kingston  went  again  for  Robert,  but  found 
that  he  had  gone  to  Boston  and  would  not  be  back  till 
night.  When  she  rejoined  the  children  The  Green- 
woods was  in  tears. 

Tears  from  Marie  were  like  the  heat  in  summer, — 
disagreeable,  but  not  surprising;  but  when  joyous  little 
Woody  cried,  everyone  rushed  to  comfort  her.  To 
Marie  this  was  fresh  proof  of  the  callousness  of  human 
nature ;  herself  in  tears,  she  was  blamed  for  making  The 
Greenwoods  cry!  She  could  prove  the  contrary, 
though;  and  recrimination  was  on  her  lips,  when  there 
came  The  Greenwoods'  answer. 


328  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

"  Marie  didn't  make  me  cry,  Mrs.  Kingston !  I'm 
just  feeling  bad." 

On  the  whole,  Marie  was  glad  she  had  not  complained 
of  Woody.  Good  old  Woody,  who  never  told  tales, 
and  never  blamed  her  mates !  Marie  adored  her ! 

Such  incidents  were  constantly  creating  in  the  chil- 
dren a  consciousness  of  The  Greenwoods'  superiority. 
They  were  always  trying  to  outdo  her, — and  succeed- 
ing; yet  when  they  had  beaten  her  in  matches,  games, 
or  books  she  could,  with  a  word  or  smile,  make  their 
achievements  as  naught.  Their  worth  lay  in  what  they 
did;  hers,  in  what  she  was. 

"Are  you  ill?"  inquired  Mrs.  Kingston  anxiously. 

"No,  Mrs.  Kingston;  just  tired." 

"  Don't  you  want  to  play  with  Pearl  ?  She  plays 
like  a  little  lady,  and  doesn't  make  you  cry !  " 

Jealousy  and  gloom  filled  Marie's  soul  at  this  re- 
proof, but  Woody  once  more  turned  aside  her  wrath: 
"  But  Marie  didn't  make  me  cry  either,  Mrs.  Kingston. 
And  I  don't  wish  to  visit  Pearl,  thank  you.  I'm  tired 
of  meat  children.  I  never  want  to  play  with  anybody 
again !  " 

And  this  from  The  Greenwoods, — from  the  soul  of 
play! 

Mrs.  Kingston's  heart  sank;  but  the  next  moment 
she  was  smiling,  though  the  smile  was  sad. 

"  I  think,"  said  The  Greenwoods,  rising  wearily,  like 
a  tired  little  old  woman.  "  I  shall  go  and  dress  my 
dollies.  They  haven't  had  on  their  Sunday  clothes 
to-day ! " 


CHAPTER  XLIV 

HALF  an  hour  later,  Marie,  having  talked  with  her 
mother,  slipped  into  Woody's  room  to  say  that  she 
was  sorry  and  wanted  to  be  friends.  Entering  softly, 
she  found  the  young  mother  asleep  in  a  chair,  sur- 
rounded by  dolls, — the  adored  Belinda  in  her  lap. 
With  a  clap  of  her  hands,  Marie  jumped  and  shouted, 
"  Boo !  " 

There  was  a  scream,  a  start,  a  fall ;  and  on  the  floor 
lay  a  tangled  heap  of  little  girl  and  broken  doll.  When 
The  Greenwoods  extricated  herself  and  viewed  the  re- 
mains, Belinda, —  the  faithful,  the  beautiful,  the  ever- 
smiling, — was  a  total  wreck! 

Marie,  thoroughly  frightened,  was  thinking  of  her- 
self; but  The  Greenwoods,  filled  with  horror  at  this 
overwhelming  catastrophe,  was  thinking  only  of  Be- 
linda,— Belinda!  Antedating  the  St.  Louis  days,  Be- 
linda had  accompanied  her  out  of  a  prehistoric  past, 
outlasting  homes  and  mothers  and  dynasties  and  eras. 
Now  she  was  dead! 

"  I  didn't  go  to  do  it,"  faltered  Marie,  "  I'm  sorry, 
Woody !  I  didn't  know  you'd  jump  like  a  scared  rabbit, 
or  I  wouldn't  have  shouted." 

Tears  were  in  her  eyes. 

"You  did  it  a-purpose  to  make  me  jump,  Marie! 
You  wanted  to  kill  her !  You've  been  angry  all  day  at 
me,  and  came  here  to  get  even  about  something!  And 
I  hadn't  done  a  thing  to  you ! " 

329 


330  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

"  I  know  you  hadn't,  Woody.  I  wasn't  angry. 
Please  don't  cry !  " 

"  You've  always  had  it  in  for  Belinda !  You  wanted 
to  shoe-polish  her  and  bury  her,  and  now  you've  killed 
her !  "  The  Greenwoods  wrung  her  hands.  "  Oh,  Be- 
linda, Belinda!  You  was  the  oldest  friend  I  had,  and 
now  they've  killed  you!  " 

She  dropped  on  the  floor  and  gathered  the  frag- 
ments into  her  lap.  Marie  was  confounded. 

"  Please  don't  blame  me,  Woody !  I  didn't  mean  to  do 
it!  I  came  to  tell  you  I  was  sorry  I'd  been  hateful. 
Don't  cry !  I'll  give  you  another  doll.  A  prettier  than 
Belinda!  Belinda  was  getting  old.  She  was  the  oldest 
doll  you  had  and  had  lasted  long  enough.  I'll  give  you 
a  new  one." 

Thus  spoke  Marie  the  comforter,  but  The  Green- 
woods sat  and  brooded  over  her  daughter's  mangled 
corpse.  Marie  sat  down  before  the  dresser.  She  had 
learned  that,  however  dark  The  Greenwoods'  mood,  it 
speedily  changed  to  one  of  gay  good  humor.  So, 
having  said  she  was  sorry  and  offered  reparation,  she 
waited,  feeling  that  she  had  acted  with  great  nobility 
and  was  deserving  of  praise.  No  reply  forthcoming, 
she  was  hurt.  A  doll  to  Marie  was  but  a  doll. 

With  admirable  patience,  as  she  saw  it,  she  tactfully 
changed  the  subject. 

"  You  keep  your  dresser  mighty  neat.  May  I  look 
at  your  things?  " 

"  I  don't  care  what  you  do !    You  broke  Belinda !  " 

"  Oh,  bother  Belinda !  I  said  I'd  give  you  another. 
You  oughtn't  to  be  angry  with  me  just  over  a  doll, — 
when  I'm  sick.  I've  broke  your  dolls  before,  and  you 
didn't  cry !  Who  is  this  a  picture  of?  " 


"  THE  GREENWOODS  "  331 

It  was  a  likeness  of  The  Greenwoods'  mamma,  dressed 
in  the  fashion  of  a  past  decade.  Marie  asked  the  ques- 
tion to  change  the  subject  to  one  more  cheerful;  and  to 
prove  herself  free  from  resentment  at  Woody's  speech, 
she  laughed.  The  object  of  her  mirth  was  Woody's 
mamma's  clothes!  She  meant  well,  but  her  joke  was 
not  successful. 

The  Greenwoods  looked  even  grimmer  than  before, 
and  Marie,  unused  to  catering  to  the  ill  humor  of 
others,  was  provoked.  She  dropped  the  photograph 
on  the  floor  (threw  it,  The  Greenwoods  thought)  and 
picked  up  Captain  Forrest's.  She  giggled  again, 
partly  from  nervousness. 

"  Who  is  it,  Woody  ?  A  policeman  ?  Isn't  he 
ugly?" 

TKat  too  fell  on  the  floor,  and  Steppie's  picture  was 
seized. 

"  I  bet  this  is  that  Faunce  woman !  Does  she  always 
grin  so?  How  thankful  you  should  be  to  live  with 
nice  people  like  us,  instead  of  with  her!  Who  gave 
you  this  pretty  mirror, — my  uncle  or  my  brother? 
How  nice  my  folks  have  been  to  you!  If  it  wasn't  for 
brother  Rob,  you'd  be  just  a  common  beggar.  Of 
course  you  are  really  a  beggar  now,  yet  we  treat  you 
like  one  of  the  family!  So  you  should  be  sweet  to  me 
and  not  pout  so  over  just  a  doll, — when  I'm  sick." 

Even  this  failed  to  restore  The  Greenwoods'  cheer- 
fulness; so  Marie  continued  her  inventory, — while  the 
storm  was  brewing.  At  last  Marie  finished  her  inspec- 
tion, pushed  back  her  chair, — and  broke  another  doll! 

"  Well !  Why  don't  you  break  'em  all !  What  you 
waiting  for  ?  " 

Marie  began  to  cry,  for  fate  was  against  her. 


S32  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  You  know  I  didn't  mean  to." 

"  Don't  tell  stories,  you  sneak !  You  miserble,  little, 
whining,  sick  kitten  !  Sore-eyed  puppy !  Pig !  " 

"  Don't  say  I  tell  stories  and  don't  call  me  pig,  or 
I'll  break  all  your  old  dolls  and  tell  my  brother  on 
you !  " 

The  threat  was  idle,  but  The  Greenwoods  did  not 
know  it,  nor  did  she  care.  She  sprang  to  her  feet  and 
danced  in  fury. 

"  You  can  tell,  you  tattler ;  but  you  can't  break  my 
babies !  I'll  break  'em  myself !  " 

And  she  did.  Marie  looked  on  in  fear  and  conster- 
nation, quailing  before  the  storm,  and  wondering  when 
her  own  time  would  come.  She  retreated  as  far  as  the 
door,  and  held  her  breath. 

Picking  up  one  golden-haired  infant,  the  savage 
mother  crushed  its  skull  against  the  iron  bedstead  and 
the  pieces  flew.  The  twins  followed,  and  Salviny  lay 
in  atoms  on  the  floor;  Laura  Louise  was  drawn  and 
quartered;  Mary  Frances  was  trampled  on;  Carlotta 
was  ground  to  pieces ;  Samella  was  tossed  to  the  ceiling, 
and  her  corpse  was  spoilt ;  Prince  Charlie  was  beheaded 
at  a  blow,  and  the  massacre  was  complete! 

The  Greenwoods  turned  on  Marie,  who  stood  with 
blanched  face  and  gaping  mouth. 

"  Now,  get  out  of  here,  Marie  Kingston,  and  never 
enter  my  room  or  speak  to  me  again !  I'm  a-going  to 
break  all  those  things  you  made  fun  of  to  pieces " 

She  danced  over  to  the  dresser,  snatched  the  cover 
and,  jerking  it  off,  brought  the  ornaments  with  it. 
Marie,  rooted  to  the  spot,  understood  now  the  cause 
of  the  devastation.  The  pictures  she  had  laughed  at 
were  of  Woody's  dead  relatives.  Marie  was  heartsick, 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  333 

but  The  Greenwoods  glared  in  brutal  satisfaction  at 
the  havoc  she  had  wrought. 

Her  possessions  had  been  derided;  her  dolls  were 
dead;  there  was  no  escape  from  the  Kingstons,  so  she 
would  end  it  all!  With  settled  determination,  she 
walked  to  the  corner  where  her  dear  dead  family  had 
lived  so  happily,  sat  down,  and  hurled  her  defiance  at 
the  world: 

"  Now,  Marie  Kingston,  I'm  a-going  to  stay  here 
until  I  rot !  I'm  never  a-going  to  speak  to  you  or  any 
of  your  family  again, — or  be  a  beggar  again!  I 
won't  have  nothing  what  your  family  give  me !  I  won't 
eat  your  grub, — or  sleep  in  your  beds!  I've  struck! 
I'm  done!  I  will  sit  in  this  corner  till  I  die,  and  never 
speak  another  word  to  nobody !  " 

Then  she  locked  her  lips  together  and  folded  her 
arms. 

Awed  and  terrified,  Marie  went  to  her  mother.  With- 
out exonerating  herself  in  any  particular,  she  confessed 
each  thoughtless  act,  each  unkind,  tactless  word. 

Mrs.  Kingston, — already  worried  by  one  little  girl's 
selfishness  and  the  other's  mysticism, — was  appalled. 
Then  (because, — while  all  the  world  can  pity  a  mis- 
shaped body, — only  a  mother  can  discern  a  distorted 
soul,  and  love  it,  and  pity  it  to  the  last)  she  took 
Marie  in  her  arms  and  kissed  her. 

The  orphan's  blithe  spirit  would, — in  time, — forget 
her  injuries,  but  when  would  Marie  find  rest  from  her 
shallow  egotism? 

"  Do  you  s'pose  she  will  ever  forgive  me,  Mamma  ?  " 

"  I  never  could,  Marie,  if  I  were  she." 

"Neither  would  I.     But," — her  face  brightened, — 


334  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  she's  not  like  us.  She  forgives  and  forgets !  I'd  hate 
to  be  that  way  myself,  but  I'm  glad  she  is.  It  must  be 
awful  to  live  in  the  house  with  folks  like — us !  " 

While  Marie  went  to  her  own  store  of  toys  to  select 
a  peace  offering,  Mrs.  Kingston  went  to  The  Green- 
woods and  tried  to  heal  the  wounds  for  which  she 
knew  no  reparation  could  atone.  As  she  talked  and 
pleaded  for  even  a  look  of  recognition  The  Green- 
woods kept  her  eyes  fixed  on  her  father's  picture  still 
lying  ignominiously  on  the  floor.  The  little  daughter's 
resolution  never  to  speak  again  was  strengthened. 

After  trying  in  vain  to  soften  the  child's  anger,  Mrs. 
Kingston  ordered  the  reminders  of  it  removed.  So  a 
maid  came  with  broom  and  duster,  and  while  Mother 
Burns  exclaimed  and  wondered,  they  swept  the  remains 
of  Belinda  and  the  babies  into  the  dustpan  and  threw 
them  out  with  the  garbage. 

"  They  might  have  buried  'em ! "  thought  Woody. 

One  precious  fragment  alone  was  saved.  They  were 
brushing  it  by  her  when  it  caught  in  her  dress,  and, 
looking  down,  she  recognized  it.  She  wrapped  it  in 
her  handkerchief  and  put  it  in  her  lap.  It  was  Be- 
linda's smile! 

Marie  brought  the  promised  doll  that  was  to  take 
the  place  of  poor  Belinda.  (As  if  it  could!)  She  had 
painstakingly  selected  the  best  she  had  and  gave  it 
without  a  grudge.  It  was  prettier  than  Belinda,  and 
far  finer ;  but  it  lay  repudiated  on  the  floor. 

Colonel  Kingston  came  and  took  his  little  tenant  into 
his  arms. 

"  Did  Marie  break  your  doll?  "  he  asked,  "  If  she 
did,  I  will  punish  her  myself !  " 

The  Greenwoods  shook  her  head.     The  old  man  al- 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  335 

most  wept  over  her,  but  she  was  cold  and  unresponsive. 

They  brought  her  chocoloate  and  cake;  it  remained 
beside  the  doll,  unnoticed. 

"Why  don't  you  eat,  Woody?"  coaxed  Marie, 
"  Please  eat.  You  will  die  if  you  don't !  We  are  glad 
to  have  you  eat  our  grub.  You  are  not  a  beggar, 
either.  Papa  says  you  aren't, — but  our  honored  guest. 
I'm  sorry  for  what  I  said." 

This  apology  was  ignored  as  was  the  dinner  (brought 
by  the  cook)  of  Woody's  favorite  viands.  A  surly  look 
was  on  the  cook's  face;  she  loved  The  Greenwoods. 
"  They've  done  it,  have  they?  "  she  asked.  "  Bad  'cess 
to  'em ! " 

Putting  the  dinner  on  the  other  side  of  the  chocolate, 
she  sat  down  beside  the  striker,  and  together  they 
glared  at  all  intruders.  That  daunted  the  bravest, — 
all  but  Walter, — and  he  too  joined  the  strike.  Marie 
stood  without  the  door  and  cried. 

The  Greenwoods  had  always  talked  her  anger  away 
in  gusts  of  vituperation,  but  now,  through  her  vow  of 
silence,  it  was  pent  within;  and  every  well-meant  word 
and  deed  seemed  like  an  added  insult.  She  brooded  over 
her  wrongs,  her  loneliness,  her  neglect;  and  slights, — 
offenses  that  had  been  condoned  at  the  time, — came 
back  and  swelled  her  rage. 

Nobody  wanted  her;  the  Kingstons  didn't,  yet  they 
wouldn't  let  her  live  with  any  one  else, — not  even  with 
Miss  Ardelia,  who  didn't  want  her  either.  Frances 
loved  her,  but  believed  in  spanking  and  said  she  talked 
too  much !  Well,  she  wouldn't  talk  too  much  any  more. 
She'd  quit.  They'd  wanted  her  to  for  years;  grown 
folks  had  fussed  about  it ;  children  had  laughed ;  school- 
teachers had  kept  her  in ;  everybody  had  said  "  not  to 


336  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

interrupt,"  and  "  little  pitchers,"  and  "  mind  your 
grammar."  All  they  cared  for  was  grammar!  They 
didn't  care  for  what  she  said, — just  for  the  grammar; 
so  now  she'd  stopped,  and  she  hoped  they  were  satis- 
fied !  There  was  plenty  to  say,  but  no  one  to  say  it  to. 
So  what  was  the  use?  She  would  never  speak  again 
and  never  come  out  of  that  corner!  She  had  always 
wanted  to  stop  talking  and  go  hermiting.  But  they 
wouldn't  let  her  "  have  a  cave,  or  marry,  or  nothing ! 
So  the  corner  it  should  be  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen." 

Bedtime  drew  near,  and  she  had  neither  spoken  nor 
budged.  She  had  kept  her  vow.  But  at  last  the  Sand- 
man came,  and  sprinkled  dust  in  her  eyes.  The  tired 
little  striker  dropped  off  to  sleep,  was  tenderly  un- 
dressed, and  gently  put  to  bed.  Then  one  by  one  the 
various  members  of  the  family, — and  after  them  the  ser- 
vants,— slipped  softly  in  and  kissed  the  little  curly  head. 


CHAPTER  XLV 

THAT  was  a  trying  night  for  the  Kingstons.  Dinner 
was  eaten  in  sympathetic  gloom  for  the  striker  and  in 
displeasure  at  Marie.  Marie's  impression  was  that  she 
was  scowled  out  of  the  family  circle  and  into  bed, 
where  she  cried  herself  to  sleep,  wondering  if  Woody 
would  ever,  ever,  ever  leave  the  corner.  Every  one  was 
disgusted  with  every  one  else  and  the  family  dispersed 
early,  except  Mrs.  Kingston.  She  waited  up  for  Rob- 
ert. 

She  no  longer  disliked  The  Greenwoods,  she  would 
have  sacrificed  much  to  make  her  happy,  but  it  was  not 
in  her  power  to  do  so,  and  her  best  efforts  merely  inter- 
fered with  the  current  of  joy  that  coursed  through 
that  mysterious  young  person's  veins. 

Her  welcome  of  Robert  was  almost  tearful, — so  re- 
joiced was  she  to  see  him. 

He  might  know  what  to  do  when  The  Greenwoods 
went  on  a  strike.  He  might  prevent  her  from  going 
through  cracks ;  he  might  keep  her  in  her  skin !  If 
her  mind  were  disordered,  he  might  give  her  medicine 
or  a  change  of  environment.  He  might  be  persuaded, — 
now  that  these  complications  had  arisen, — to  take  her 
back  to  Frances  Faunce. 

Mrs.  Kingston  thought  of  Frances  almost  hungrily; 
no  longer  did  she  seem  the  mercenary  wretch  that  had 
jilted  brother  Mark  and  was  trying  to  catch  son  Rob- 
ert, but  a  lovable,  womanly  young  girl,  who  was  willing 
to  relieve  the  Kingstons  of  The  Greenwoods,  save  the 

337 


338  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

family  conscience  and  Robert's  fortune, — if  he  would 
let  her.  Time  works  its  changes. 

Robert  was  late,  and  his  conversation  with  his  mother 
lasted  until  nearly  midnight,  when  both  retired  in  high 
dudgeon.  He  had  heard  of  The  Greenwoods'  Kingdom 
before,  and  was  unawed  by  the  description,  and  her 
facility  for  going  through  cracks  he  diagnosed  as  a 
too  active  imagination.  He  was  angry  with  his  mother 
for  her  suggestion  concerning  Frances,  and  doubly 
offended  with  Frances  for  making  it  embarrassing  for 
him  to  act  upon  it. 

Why  need  she  have  condemned  him  as  a  brute  just 
for  doing  what  he  thought  to  be  his  duty?  He  could 
overlook  the  charge  of  brutality  from  others,  but  not 
from  her.  Still,  he  could  have  forgiven  her  even  that, 
had  she  not  returned  his  letters  and  ended  it  all  so 
quickly.  Then,  when  an  opportunity  had  been  offered 
her  to  smooth  things  over,  she  had  most  pointedly  re- 
fused to  lift  her  hand. 

Colonel  Kingston  had  his  troubles  too.  After  await- 
ing his  wife  for  hours,  he  had  just  dozed  off,  when  she 
came  in  and  waked  him.  That  was  his  trouble,  but  she 
had  one  also,  and  he  had  to  listen  to  it  and  respond 
with  comfort  or  correction.  Her  trouble  was  Robert. 

"  He  has  caused  me  more  anxiety  and  annoyance 
than  all  the  rest  of  my  children  combined !  "  she  said, 
"  As  a  boy  he  was  almost  unmanageable,  with  his  temper 
and  stubbornness,  and  he  is  obdurate  still !  " 

"  It's  easy  to  complain  about  Bob,  but  I  notice  he  is 
the  one  all  of  you  go  to  when  in  trouble." 

"  I'm  not  saying  he  isn't  a  good  boy.  I  appreciate 
my  son's  good  qualities;  but  he  is  entirely  too  ob- 
durate!" 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  339 

"  A  man  must  have  a  will  of  his  own,  my  dear." 

"  I  understand  that,  and  no  one  is  prouder  of  Rob- 
ert's determination  than  I.  He  is  so  like  the  Perkinses ! 
All  of  us  have  strong  wills,  Colonel.  There  has  never 
been  a  weakling  in  our  family!  But  that  is  no  reason 
why  he  should  sacrifice  The  Greenwoods  to  his  whim.  I 
don't  approve  of  a  man  acting  like  a  balky  horse !  " 

"  What's  the  matter  with  Woody  now?  Isn't  she 
asleep?  " 

"  I  have  told  you  time  and  again,  Colonel :  she  goes 
through  cracks ! " 

"  A  plaintive  note  was  in  her  voice,  and  he  hastened 
to  soothe  her. 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  remember.  Too  bad !  Perhaps  she  will 
get  over  it,  though ;  she  is  young  yet,  and  Bob  is  a  good 
physician !  " 

"  Something's  about  to  happen,  Colonel.  I've  been 
feeling  strange  all  day.  This  is  a  presentiment !  " 

"  You  are  just  nervous,  dear.  It's  been  too  much  for 
you.  Try  to  sleep !  " 

"  I  can't  live  in  a  house  with  a  child  who  amuses 
herself  in  that  uncanny  way.  Robert  should  have  some 
regard  for  my  feelings !  " 

"  He  must  move  at  once  then  to  a  home  of  his  own." 

"  Colonel  Kingston !  For  a  man  of  your  intelligence 
to  make  a  remark  like  that !  " 

He  sat  up  in  bed  and  glared  around  at  the  darkness. 

"  What's  wrong  with  my  remark  ?  " 

"  How  could  his  moving  help  ?  How  could  it  keep 
me  from  worrying?  Do  you  think  that  simply  taking 
her  to  another  house  would  relieve  my  apprehensions? 
I  should  worry  more  than  ever!  And  think  of  the  in- 
convenience! If  I  ever  wanted  to  see  any  of  my  chil- 


340  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

dren,  I  should  have  to  follow  them  there;  and  all  my 

servants  would  go  with  her.     I've  had  my  cook  fifteen 

years  too,  and  my  housekeeper,  ten.     Do  you  want  me 

to  begin  all  over  again  at  my  age?  " 

"  I  spoke  hastily.    I  didn't  foresee  the  consequences." 
"  Then    don't    encourage    Robert    in    his    obduracy. 

For  understand,  Colonel,  I  will  go  to  law  before  I  will 

permit  him  to  take  that  child  away.     He  threatened  to 

do  it  to-night !  " 

"  I  shall  ask  him  to  leave  her  here  then,  and  we  will 

make  the  best  of  things  just  as  they  are." 

"  Indeed,  we  will  not !    Are  you  willing  for  that  dear 

little  girl  to  be  sacrificed  before  your  eyes?  " 

"  What    are    you    after,    woman !      What    do    you 

want?" 

"  Calm  yourself,  Colonel !    I  only  want  Robert  to  do 

his  duty." 

"  And  what,  in  thunder,  do  you  think  that  is  ?  " 
"  Simply  to  take  the  child  back  to  Frances  Faunce." 
"To    v.hom?      To    the    creature    that    jilted    your 

brother, — that  unprincipled  flirt  ?  " 

'''  Please   ^peak  more   respectfully   of   Miss   Faunce, 

Colonel  Kingston.     She  is  nothing  to  you,  of  course, 

but  remember, — my  brother  loved  her !  " 

He  had  been  sitting  up  again,  but  fell  over  with  a 

groan. 

"  Then  why  did  he  take  the  child  away  from  her?  " 
"  Because  of  his  great  love !  What  man  would  want 

the  woman  he  loved  burdened  with  such  a  child?  " 

"  Then  why  do  you  want  to  send  her  back  again?  " 
"  I'm  under  no  obligations  to  Miss  Faunce.     But  she 

seems  to  be  willing  to  take  her, — and  it  will  be  best  for 

Woody." 


"THE   GREENWOODS"  341 

The  hour  was  late,  or  rather,  early,  and  Colonel 
Kingston  slowly  cooled  down  and  dozed  again.  No 
sooner,  it  seemed,  had  he  closed  his  eyes  than  a  clear 
sweet  voice  was  heard  singing: 

" '  O  be  joyful  in  the  Lord,  all  ye  lands, 

Serve  the  Lord  with  gladness  and  come  before 
His  presence  with  a  song.'  " 

"  In  the  name  of  all  that  is  good  and  holy,  why  is 
Woody  singing  at  this  time  of  night?  "  he  ejaculated. 

"  Be  cairn,  Colonel  Kingston !  If  that  poor,  heart- 
broken child  wants  to  sing  now,  she  shall  sing."  Mrs. 
Kingston  had  not  been  asleep. 

"  But  I  won't  have  the  house  disturbed  in  this  un- 
heard-of manner !  " 

" '  Be  ye  sure  that  the  Lord  he  is  God ; 

It  is  he  that  hath  made  us,  and  not  we  ourselves: 
We  are  his  people,  and  the  sheep  of  his  pasture.'  " 

"  What  does  Bob  mean  by  allowing  a  thing  like  this ! 
Why  doesn't  he  go  back  and  choke  her?  "  roared  the 
Colonel. 

"  If  you  object  so  seriously  to  hearing  an  orphan 
child  singing  a  religious  song,  Colonel  Kingston 
(though  I  fail  to  understand  your  impatience),  you 
must  simply  induce  Robert  to  take  the  poor  thing  back 
to  Frances  Faunce !  " 

He  groaned.  The  chant  had  abruptly  ended,  and 
silence  brooded.  Again  Colonel  Kingston  slept  and 
again  he  was  disturbed.  The  summons  to  be  joyful  was 
heard  once  more.  It  had  turned  gray  in  the  east,  but  it 
was  still  too  early  for  rising,  so,  instead  of  rejoicing 
as  the  songstress  urged,  the  old  man  raged. 

"  This  is  too  much !  "  he  murmured  as  in  his  ears  the 


342  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

Jubilate  rang.  "  How  do  you  expect  me  to  sleep, 
madam?  " 

"  I  don't  expect  you  to  sleep.  I  haven't  slept  myself. 
But  if  you  insist  on  the  child's  staying  here  against  her 
will,  you  should  not  object  to  her  singing  occasionally." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  it !  I  didn't  bring  the 
chit." 

"  You  are  the  head  of  this  house,  sir !  Assert  your 
authority  and  make  Robert  take  the  chit  (oh,  Colonel!) 
back  to  Miss  Faunce !  " 

However  penetrating  The  Greenwoods'  vocalizing 
had  seemed  to  Colonel  Kingston,  it  was  unheard  by  the 
younger  generation,  who  were  sound  sleepers.  Having 
grown  accustomed  to  her  morning  song,  they  resented 
its  absence.  Therefore,  while  Colonel  Kingston  was 
enraged  because  she  had  sung  too  much,  the  rest  were 
uneasy  because  she  had  not, — to  their  knowledge, — 
sung  at  all. 

Marie,  noticing  the  lack  of  melody  in  the  air,  dressed 
with  the  vision  of  The  Greenwoods  in  the  corner. 
Every  one  had  blamed  Marie  for  sending  her  there  and 
her  own  conscience  joined  them.  Marie  had  had  enough 
of  the  strike  and  was  willing  to  submit  to  any  terms  to 
end  it.  As  she  was  going  miserably  down  to  break- 
fast she  met  Walter. 

"  So  you've  succeeded  at  last  in  knocking  all  the  song 
out  of  Woody,  have  you  ?  Feeling  good  about  it  ?  "  he 
inquired. 

Marie  began  to  cry;  but  she  cried  so  often  over 
nothing  that  he  pulled  her  hair,  in  order  to  give  her 
something  to  cry  about. 

"  How  does  that  feel, — and  that,  and  that  ?  "  Each 
"  that  "  was  accompanied  with  a  tweak.  "  That  is 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  343 

just  to  let  you  know  how  it  feels;  and  every  time  I 
meet  you  I  shall  give  you  another  till  The  Greenwoods 
is  in  a  good  humor.  So  there !  " 

Marie  went  sobbing  to  her  mother,  but  that  erstwhile 
fond  parent  had  begun  reformatory  measures.  The 
once  indulged  darling  got  a  vigorous  shake,  instead  of 
the  expected  comfort,  and  a  promise  of  worse  to  come 
if  the  crying  did  not  stop. 

Despite  these  passages,  all  were  at  length  seated  at 
the  table, — except  The  Greenwoods. 

"  Where  is  she?  "  asked  Mrs.  Kingston.  Every  eye 
was  immediately  fixed  on  Marie.  "  Is  she  ill  ?  " 

"  From  the  amount  and  volume  of  her  singing,"  spoke 
Colonel  Kingston  testily,  "  her  lungs,  at  least,  are  in  a 
good  condition !  " 

"  I  didn't  hear  her  sing,"  said  Robert. 

"  You  must  be  deaf !  She's  been  at  it  since  four 
o'clock." 

Marie  looked  at  Walter  with  resigned  and  patient 
martyrdom.  He  felt  guilty,  until  he  convinced  him- 
self that  hair-pullings  and  shakings  were  doubtless 
good  for  Marie,  when  he  scowled  severely. 

"  I  hope  she  didn't  disturb  you."  Robert  spoke 
shortly.  His  father's  complaint  was  the  last  straw, 
and  he  renewed  his  resolve  to  take  a  house. 

"  She  kept  me  awake  all  night.  I  don't  object  to  the 
little  girl's  singing,  Bob;  but  she  ought  to  have  a  time 
limit !  " 

"  I  shall  speak  to  her  about  it  this  morning." 

"  You  must  do  nothing  of  the  kind !  "  interposed 
Mrs.  Kingston,  "  Her  feelings  have  been  sufficiently  in- 
jured already."  She  gazed  reproachfully  at  Marie. 
"  If  she  feels  like  singing  after  your  daughter's  be- 


344  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

havior  Colonel  Kingston,  I  think  you  might  endure  it 
more  patiently." 

Marie  twisted  unhappily  in  her  chair. 

"  Whose  fault  is  it,"  demanded  Colonel  Kingston, 
"  that  Marie  behaves  like  an  ill-bred,  little  beast  ?  If  by 
saying  she  is  my  daughter  you  mean  you  are  willing  to 
turn  her  over  to  me,  I  will  soon  beat  some  of  this  rude- 
ness and  lack  of  consideration  for  others  out  of  her !  " 

He  too  had  decided  to  reform  Marie.  The  unfor- 
tunate child  burst  into  tears,  and  her  father  looked 
ready  to  begin  his  treatment.  Walter  shot  at  her  a 
glance  of  exultation;  Robert  frowned;  and,  shaking 
a  reproving  finger,  Mrs.  Kingston  reminded  the  miser- 
able sinner  of  some  dark  promise  that  had  been  pre- 
viously made.  The  day  of  reckoning,  which  comes  to 
every  spoilt  child,  had  come  to  Marie ;  and  her  measure 
was  meted  out  by  the  hands  that  had  indulged  her. 

Rendered  acrid  by  loss  of  sleep,  Colonel  Kingston 
turned  to  his  wife. 

"  You  are  too  lenient  with  the  children,  madam ! 
What  with  Marie  crying  all  day  and  Woody  singing 
all  night,  you  have  turned  the  place  into  a  bedlam." 

"  I  will  attend  to  The  Greenwoods,"  promised  Robert 
sternly ;  "  and  I  assure  you  that  she  will  never  offend 
again,  at  any  rate,  not  in  this  particular.  But  if 
Mother  can  stop  Marie's  plaintive  moan — She's  a 
daisy!" 

"  Marie,  hush  at  once,  or  leave  the  table.  And  wait 
for  me  in  my  room.  I  will  give  you  what  I  promised! 
Robert,  I  will  not  have  The  Greenwoods  scolded !  "  ex- 
claimed Mrs.  Kingston. 

"  I  can't  have  my  father  disturbed,  Mother !  " 

"  I  wish  I  was  dead !  "  said  Marie. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  345 

"  I  can't  have  my  slumbers  disturbed,  madam !  "  said 
Colonel  Kingston. 

"  There  is  no  occasion  for  it,  Colonel.  Robert  need 
only  listen  to  reason, — and  take  the  child  back  to 
Frances  Faunce !  "  said  Mrs.  Kingston. 

At  that  moment  the  door  opened,  and  The  Green- 
woods entered, — a  radiantly  smiling  Greenwoods,  and 
in  her  Sunday  best! 

"  Good-morning,  everybody ! "  she  shouted  gaily, 
"  I'm  so  sorry  I  was  late." 


CHAPTER  XL VI 

THE  GBEENWOODS  was  not  sensitive.  She  had  too 
positive  an  atmosphere  of  her  own  for  her  feelings  to  be 
governed  by  the  feelings  of  others. 

So  now,  wrapped  in  some  secret  bliss,  she  was 
oblivious  of  the  surrounding  ill  humor.  Her  smile  was 
like  a  whiff  of  fresh  air.  Those  who  had  been  anxious 
were  relieved,  while  those  who  had  been  angry  were 
ashamed.  Hers  was  the  first  cheerful  face  they  had 
seen  that  morning;  hers  were  the  first  pleasant  words 
they  had  heard, — and  her  sins  were  forgiven. 

"  Howdy,  Dr.  Kingston !  I  thought  you  were  in 
Boston.  Glad  to  see  you !  "  Owing  to  her  deep-seated 
disapproval  of  all  guardians  in  general, — and  of  her 
own  in  particular, — he  was  not  wont  to  receiving  such 
hearty  greetings.  He  kissed  her  as  he  helped  her  into 
her  seat,  which  in  turn  surprised  her.  He  forgot  the 
scolding  he  had  promised  to  give  her;  Colonel  King- 
ston forgot  the  sleepless  night  she  had  caused,  and  Mrs. 
Kingston  forgot  the  necessity  of  returning  her  to  Miss 
Faunce. 

"  Say,  Tommie," — thus  she  addressed  the  dignified 
English  butler, — "  I  don't  hanker  for  this  breakfast, 
somehow,  and  they  are  fixing  me  something  good  in  the 
kitchen.  Get  it,  please." 

Robert  glanced  in  contrition  at  his  mother, — who 
was  always  jealous  of  her  authority, — to  find  her  smil- 
ing. Since  The  Greenwoods  had  come  out  of  the 
corner,  all  minor  faults  were  pardoned.  The  butler 

346 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  347 

obeyed  with  alacrity,  and  placed  the  dish  before  her 
with  tenderness. 

"  I've  had  two  breakfasts  already,"  she  announced 
unblushingly,  "  so  I'm  not  exactly  hungry.  But  now 
that  I'm  not  to  have  any  more  tummy-aches,  I  may  as 
well  eat  my  fill!  This  is  awful  good, — oatmeal  with 
whipped  cream,  and  chunks  of  banana  and  cocoanut !  " 

"  Don't  eat  too  much  of  it,"  laughed  Robert. 

"  Certainly  not !  Just  a  nibble  for  pleasure.  Have 
a  bite?  " 

"  No,  thanks !  " 

"  Say,  Marie ;  I  got  something  to  tell  you ! " 

At  these  friendly  words  Marie's  eyes  filled  with  tears 
of  gratitude.  No  one  rebuked  her  for  crying  now,  for 
they  were  too  busy  smiling  at  the  jolly  little  girl  eating 
her  funny  mixture.  Even  Marie  was  smiling  through 
her  tears  at  this  adorable  child,  who  had  come  out  of 
her  corner  and,  without  even  a  reproachful  look,  had 
taken  her  again  into  good-fellowship.  Verily,  there  was 
no  one  like  The  Greenwoods! 

Marie's  voice  was  tremulous  with  love  and  repen- 
tance as  she  replied :  "  Oh,  I'm  so  glad,  Woody !  I 
thought  you  were  still  in  your  awful  corner  and  would 
never  speak  to  me  again !  " 

This  tactless  outburst  won  Marie  the  smiles  of  her 
kindred,  but  filled  The  Greenwoods  with  dismay.  The 
Greenwoods  had  forgotten  her  rash  vow;  and, — sud- 
denly finding  herself  out  of  the  corner  and  talking  in 
the  midst  of  her  enemies, — was  overcome  with  embar- 
rassment. One  moment  she  sat  appalled;  then  grasp- 
ing at  her  fast-receding  self-esteem,  she  caught  it,  and 
began  to  make  excuses. 

"  Why,  that  happened  yesterday,  Marie !  You  can't 
expect  me  to  stay  mad  always!  I  haven't  time!  Be- 


348  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

sides,  it  was  for  the  best.  It  always  is.  It  was  sad  to 
lose  poor  Belinda,  and  hard  to  see  the  babies  swept  out 
like  rubbish!  But  what  would  have  become  of  them 
without  me?  " 

"  If  you'll  be  friends  with  me  again,  Woody,  you  can 
have  everything  I've  got !  " 

"  I  don't  want  your  things,  Marie.  I  ain't  got  no 
use  for  'em.  But,  say," — she  leaned  forward,  intent  on 
proving  the  unpleasantness  a  thing  of  the  past, — "  you 
can  manage  my  funeral  for  me !  " 

At  this  novel  proposition  Robert  and  Colonel  King- 
ston laughed,  but  Mrs.  Kingston  remembered  her  pre- 
sentiment, while  Walter  and  Marie, — knowing  how  near 
the  orphan  lived  to  the  portals  of  another  world, — 
were  prescient  of  evil. 

"  Oh,  Woody,  you  are  not  going  to  die  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  so,  Marie.  Leastways,  I'm  a-going 
to  heaven;  and  that's  generally  the  way  folks  get 
there."  Marie's  horrified  face  caused  this  statement  to 
be  modified.  "  But  I  may  be  translated, — I  never 
thought  of  that."  She  pondered  the  possibility  with 
pleased  interest,  but  truth  compelled  her  to  abandon 
the  idea.  "  But  the  fact  is,  Marie,  folks  aren't  trans- 
lated often  nowadays;  it's  not  the  style.  So  I  reckon 
I  shall  die." 

"  Not  any  time  soon  though  ?  " 

"  Um-humgh,  to-night.  But  don't  bother  about  it, 
for  I  shall  be  better  off.  Just  wait  till  I'm  laid  out  and 
see  if  they  don't  all  say  so !  "  Marie  still  looked  grave. 
"And  just  think  how  much  fun  the  funeral  will  be! 
Remember,  everybody," — she  glanced  smilingly  at  the 
shocked  faces  around  the  board,  then  took  another 
bite, — "  that  Marie  is  to  manage  it  all  by  her  lone- 
some." 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  349 

"What  sort  of  talk  is  this,  little  girl?"  Robert 
frowned,  but  solicitously  placed  his  arm  about  her, 
sadly  interfering  thereby  with  the  progress  of  her  meal. 

The  smiles  had  vanished,  for  though  she  seemed  in  the 
pink  of  health,  there  is  a  seriousness  about  the  thought 
of  death  that  will  not  be  laughed  away. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you?  "  Spoon  in  air,  she  glanced  up 
sweetly  at  him.  "  I'm  a-going  to  heaven  to-night !  " 

"  What  makes  you  think  so,  Woody  ?  "  Of  course 
it  was  just  one  of  her  nonsensical  ideas,  but  his  voice 
shook,  and  no  one  else  had  the  fortitude  to  speak. 

"  My  Mamma  told  me  so." 

"  Your  Mamma  ?  "  Robert  asked  the  question,  and 
Mrs.  Kingston  gasped. 

"  Haven't  you  heard  about  it  ?  Mamma  visited  me 
last  night ! " 

They  understood  now  the  cause  of  the  servants' 
solemnity,  of  the  cook's  breakfast  favor,  of  the  butler's 
tenderness. 

"  She  came  in  the  middle  of  the  night  and  stood  be- 
side my  bed.  She  promised  to  come  again  to-night 
and  take  me  back  with  her  to  Paradise.  I  wish  you 
could  a-seen  her,  Dr.  Kingston!  She  was  all  glorious 
and  beautiful!  You  too,  Marie;  she  wasn't  tacky  a 
bit,  like  you  said ! " 

Marie  hung  her  head. 

"  Nor  stylish  neither.  Her  dress  was  more  like  those 
in  a  Greek  drill, — only  white  as  white  can  be,  with  lovely 
colors  shining  through  it  like  shadows  when  she  moved. 
And  she  had  the  most  gorgeous  halo  I  ever  saw! 
Diamonds,  with  a  rainbow  over  it,  what  lighted  up  the 
room ;  and  a  lily  was  in  her  hand ;  and  when  it  trembled, 
little,  faint,  sweet  music  played." 


350  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

Robert's  lips  were  dry,  and  he  spoke  with  an  effort. 
"  It — it  was  only  a  dream,  dear  child !  " 

"  No,  Dr.  Kingston ;  the  first  part  may  have  been  a 
dream,  for  that's  the  usual  way  those  inside  people 
come.  And  they're  so  quick,  that, — no  matter  how 
fast  you  wake, — they  slip  away  like  lightning,  and 
leave  you  lonely.  But  this  time  it  wasn't  so !  For  I 
had  the  dream,  and  then  the  lily  played  and  woke  me 
up, — and  there  she  stood !  " 

"  You  only  thought  you  saw  her,  dear !  " 

"  I  saw  her  with  my  own  two  wide-awake  meat  eyes ! 
She  stayed  a  long  sweet  minute.  And  then  suddenly — 
she  wasn't  there.  And  the  room  was  dark,  and  I  was 
by  myself.  But  I  was  so  glad  I'd  seen  my  mamma  (you 
know  every  little  girl  wants  to  see  her  mamma  once) 
that  I  jumped  right  up  and  was  a-laughing  and  a-sing- 
ing  at  the  top  of  my  voice  before  I  knew  it !  " 

Colonel  Kingston  sank  back  limply.  He  glanced 
guiltily  at  his  wife  and  dropped  his  handkerchief.  He 
was,  ordinarly,  a  sweet-tempered  old  gentleman;  and  it 
seemed  hard  that  the  only  complant  he  had  ever  made 
of  The  Greenwoods  should  have  been  at  a  time  like  this. 
He  left  the  room,  and  Walter  followed. 

"  I'm  ready  to  go,"  finished  Woody,  "  for  I  got  right 
up  and  started  my  preparations.  Mother  Burns  was 
sleeping  on  her  good  ear  and  missed  the  noise.  I  re- 
membered how  upset  she  was  over  my  trip  last  sum- 
mer, so  I  didn't  bother  her  over  this  one  till  this  morn- 
ing, when  I  told  her. 

"  I've  been  all  over  town.  I  went  before  it  was  light ! 
And  I've  given  away  every  rag  I've  got  to  my  poor 
friends, — 'cepting  just  this," — she  touched  the  fine 
raiment  she  wore, — "  and  the  white  clothes  I  wanted  to 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  351 

get  married  in;  but  buried  will  do  just  as  well.  They 
are  laid  out  on  the  bed,  Marie, — awaiting !  " 

Walter's  boyish  soul  was  pleading  in  a  tempest  of 
despair  with  the  powers  of  life  and  death;  Colonel 
Kingston,  forgetful  of  his  cigar,  restlessly  walked  to 
and  fro  as  he  waited  to  consult  with  Robert  and  insist 
that  something  be  done  instanter  to  save  The  Green- 
woods' life;  the  servants  had  gathered  in  an  awe-struck 
group  around  the  kitchen  range;  The  Greenwoods  had 
bustled  from  the  room  in  a  whirlwind  of  preparation, 
Marie,  fascinated,  in  her  wake.  Robert  and  his  mother 
were  alone. 

Mrs.  Kingston  hesitated.  Having  seen  the  clouds 
gathering,  she  had  warned  him  of  the  coming  storm; 
had  pointed  out  the  only  shelter  that  would  avail.  But 
he  had  been  restive  under  her  advice,  cynical  and  de- 
fiant. 

She  looked  at  him  where  he  sat,  so  stricken  and  help- 
less, for  all  his  masculinity.  Then  she  went  to  his  side 
and  put  her  arms  about  her  big  boy. 

"  My  son,"  she  asked,  "  what  can  I  do  to  help  you?  " 


CHAPTER  XL VII 

HAVING  brought  nothing  into  this  world,  The  Green- 
woods was  determined  to  carry  nothing  out.  So,  laden 
with  a  portion  of  her  belongings,  she  was  on  her  way  to 
school,  accompanied  by  Marie, — heavy  laden, — and  by 
Walter,  who  was  heavy  laden  too. 

There  had  been  an  interview  with  her  guardian  in 
which  her  vocabulary  had  been  enlarged  by  several 
choice  verbal  specimens,  and  in  which  her  faith  had 
triumphed  over  his  logic.  The  argument  had  ended 
amicably,  and  she  had  invited  him  to  visit  her  im- 
mediately after  his  demise.  Then  he  had  subjected  her 
to  a  physical  examination  and  mental  quizz,  after  which 
common  sense  had  resumed  its  sway. 

Realizing  that  this  projected  journey  to  the  better 
land  was  simply  one  more  air  castle  that  Woody  was 
trying  to  bring  to  earth,  he  sent  her  rejoicing  on  her 
way,  telephoned  the  teachers  to  be  on  their  guard, 
reassured  his  mother,  and  made  various  plans  for  di- 
verting her  mind  and  of  bridging  her  hopes  over  to  a 
workaday  to-morrow. 

In  preparing  for  her  decease,  she  was  just  as  busy, 
contented,  and  matter-of-fact  as  she  had  ever  been  be- 
fore in  her  life. 

"  It  will  be  my  funeral,  Marie,  but  I'll  let  you  run  it. 
You  love  funerals  so, — I  hope  you'll  enjoy  this  one." 

Marie  dubiously  wondered  what  fun  it  would  be  with 
the  star  performer  shut  up  in  a  box. 

"  Put  a  bow  on  my  head  (I  won't  look  natural  with- 
852 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  353 

out  it),  and  pin  a  flower  on  me.  Some  don't  care  for 
flowers  in  the  coffin,  but  I  wouldn't  give  a  nickel  to  be 
buried  without  one.  And  there's  a  brown-paper  bundle 
in  my  top  dresser-drawer.  Have  it  buried  with  my 
meat!  It's  my  pictures  and  things,  and  I  don't  want 
'em  left  around  where  others  can  laugh  at  'em.  Now 
don't  forget!" 

Marie  crimsoned.  She  had  hoped  her  unfortunate 
words  had  been  forgotten. 

"  I  will,  Woody ;  but  I  didn't  mean  to  hurt  your  feel- 
ings about  them.  I  was  just  trying  to  get  you  into  a 
good  humor  about  Belinda !  " 

"  You  bury  'em  with  me,  all  the  same.  Just  as  they 
are!" 

"  I'll  see  she  does,  without  a  single  peep ! "  promised 
Walter. 

The  Greenwoods  smiled  brightly  at  him. 

"  Thanks,  Walter !  You  are  the  nicest  boy  I  ever 
knew.  I've  so  enj  oyed  your  acquaintance !  How  would 
you  like, — being  as  I've  made  other  plans, — to  be  sweet- 
hearts with  Goldilocks?  She's  a  lovely  girl!  May  I 
write  to-day  and  arrange  it  ?  " 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  I'll  never  have  another  sweetheart,  Woody !  When 
a  boy  is  used  to  you,  all  other  girls  seem  like  fools.  I'll 
never  marry." 

"  Just  as  you  please,  Walter.  Hurry  up  and  die. 
We'll  have  a  time !  You  can  live  with  us,  and  we'll  share 
my  star  together.  You  too,  Marie.  Mamma  will  be  so 
pleased  to  have  you,  and  I'd  like  to  reciprocate  the 
hospitality  I've  enj  oyed  in  your  charming  home !  " 

Remembering  the  quality  of  her  hospitality,  Marie 
was  perfectly  willing  to  postpone  a  reciprocation. 

"  I'm  not  good  enough  to  go  to  heaven." 


354  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  It's  not  goodness  what  counts  so  much,  Marie, — 
but  enjoyment.  Just  be  happy  and  make  all  around 
you  happy,  and  the  angels  will  be  lots  gladder  to  see 
you  than  if  you  was  so  powerful  good,  and  whiney  with 
it.  They  like  things  free  and  easy ;  and  all  this  ever- 
lasting goodness  you  folks  are  so  crazy  about  down 
here  would  turn  'em  gray-headed." 

Walter's  heart  lightened.  Surely  if  The  Green- 
woods was  upon  the  brink  of  eternity  her  words  would 
be  more  churchy  and  sedate. 

"  Then,  doesn't  it  matter  how  we  behave?  "  asked 
Marie. 

"  Not  if  your  feelings  are  right.  Down  here  people 
can't  see  your  feelings,  so  they've  got  to  judge  you  by 
your  acts.  But  up  there  it's  what  you  think.  If  you 
throw  rocks  at  angels  they  just  dodge  'em  and  laugh, 
'cause  they're  so  lively.  But  if  you  think  hateful 
thoughts,  they  will  dodge  you;  then  you'll  walk  about 
the  heavenly  streets  all  by  yourself,  Marie,  seeing  the 
beautiful  things  and  lovely  places  and  hearing  the  glor- 
ious music,  feeling  so  lonesome  and  stuck  up, — a-think- 
ing  you're  the  only  person  there." 

This  was  not  encouraging,  but  one  hope  of  happiness 
still  was  left. 

"  And  can  I  have  all  the  beautiful  things  ?  " 

"  If  you  want  'em,  Marie.  In  heaven  they  give  you 
all  you  want.  So  you  must  be  careful.  For  they  don't 
wear  out  or  rust ;  it's  not  polite  to  give  presents  away 
and  there  are  no  thieves  to  steal  'em,  or  fire  to  burn 
'em,  or  garbage  cans  to  throw  'em  in;  and  everything 
is  free,  so  you  can't  sell,  and  nothing  is  hid,  so,  if  you 
don't  look  out,  you'll  have  your  heavenly  mansion  look- 
ing like  a  nickel  store !  " 

Walter   laughed,    but   Marie's    celestial   aspirations 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  355 

were  being  chilled.  She  cared  little  for  a  place  where 
one  must  be  on  visiting  terms  with  the  populace  and 
where  great  possessions  render  one  ridiculous.  She 
changed  the  subject. 

"  It  will  be  a  grand  funeral !  Will  you  come, 
Woody?" 

"  My  meat  will." 

"What  fun  is  meat?     I  want  you!     Please  come!" 

The  Greenwoods  declined  this  invitation  to  her  ob- 
sequies with  regret. 

"  I  fear  I  can't  manage  it,  Marie.  I'll  be  so  busy 
these  next  few  days.  And  I  never  did  care  much  for 
funerals !  I'd  like  to  attend,  since  you  are  so  cordial, 
but  don't  count  on  me !  The  first  is  such  a  busy  time, 
and  I  don't  expect  to  do  a  thing  for  hours  and  hours 
but  sit  on  Papa's  knee  and  talk !  He's  the  best  to  talk 
to  ever ;  and  he  hasn't  seen  me  since  I  was  a  little  tot ; 
and  I  bet  he  hasn't  even  heard  that  I  know  the  multipli- 
cation table! 

"  Then  there's  Mamma  and  Steppie !  I  shall  have  to 
get  acquainted  with  'em  all  over  again,  and  how  can  I 
possibly  leave  'em  for  just  a  funeral?  Then  I  must  go 
to  church  and  have  my  deeds  read  out,  and  my  halo 
fitted,  and  my  shoulder  blades  anointed, — to  make  the 
wings  grow;  and  meet  the  ancestors,  and  be  showed 
about  the  place.  So  my  hands  will  be  full  for  quite  a 
spell!  Then,  Marie,  the  first  spare  minute  I  have — 
guess  what  I'm  a-going  to  do?  Why,  fly  around  and 
have  a  peep  at  old  Methuselah !  " 

As  she  enumerated  these  avocations  her  young  com- 
panions,— feeling  that  the  waters  of  the  silent  river 
were  already  trickling  down  between  her  and  them, — 
drew  closer  together. 

"  Don't   talk   about   it,   W_oody ! "   groaned   Marie. 


356  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  You'll  be  gone  soon  enough,  and  we  can't  do  those 
things!  I'll  never  have  a  chum  again.  I  never  liked 
any  girl  but  you.  I  pretended  I  did, — but  that  was  be- 
cause you  was  so  indifferent:  I  wanted  to  make  you 
feel  bad!" 

"  Please  don't  take  it  so  hard,  Marie !  You  knock 
all  the  fun  out  of  dying." 

The  Greenwoods  sighed.  Marie  was  the  greatest 
spoil-sport  she  had  ever  known, — she  couldn't  appre- 
ciate even  a  sure-enough,  human  funeral! 

"  I  told  you  all  the  time  I  was  a-going  to  die !  It 
runs  in  our  family !  I  don't  belong  down  here  anyhow, 
but  have  just  been  visiting  about !  So  now  I'm  a- 
going  to  heaven  and  settle  down.  If  you  want  to  see 
me,  stop  crying  and  come  on  up.  I've  been  leaving 
places  all  my  life,  and  no  matter  how  folks  have  treated 
me,  they've  always  been  sorry  to  see  me  go.  So  you 
make  the  best  of  it,  like  France  and  the  others  did,  and 
stop  worrying !  " 

Miss  Jones  had  been  apprised  of  the  issue,  but  failed 
utterly  to  divert  The  Greenwoods'  attention  from  the 
business  in  hand,  or  to  prevent  frequent  outbursts  of 
grief  from  her  mourning  friends.  Woody  was  turning 
into  an  angel  before  their  eyes,  and  no  one  could  stop 
her. 

When  geography  was  the  topic,  she  discoursed  on 
the  location,  customs,  climate,  and  capital  of  Heaven; 
when  asked  to  solve  a  problem  in  arithmetic,  she  ex- 
pounded the  mysteries  of  the  future  state.  On  finish- 
ing grammar,  she  congratulated  herself  audibly;  and 
at  the  end  of  every  recitation  gave  away  her  text-book. 
Being  reproved  for  misconduct,  she  retaliated  with  a 
sermon  on  "  Schools  in  Heaven." 

"  Children  don't  go  to  school  in  Heaven,  Miss  Jones ; 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  357 

but  the  grown  adults  do.  And  the  first  thing  the  angels 
teach  'em  is  how  to  have  fun!  When  they  learn  that, 
they  are  turned  loose.  The  blessed  land  is  different 
from  this  dreary  place.  You  don't  have  to  go  to  school 
in  Heaven — just  because  you're  big;  and,  you  don't  get 
out  of  it — just  because  you're  little.  The  angels  ain't 
cowards  and  don't  take  advantage  of  nobody's  size !  It 
all  depends  on  how  much  you  know.  Down  here,  no 
matter  how  much  a  girl  knows,  she  has  to  go  to  school 
just  the  same;  even  when  she  has  more  sense  than 

The  lecture  was  brought  to  an  abrupt  close,  and  the 
dear  departing  wrote  long  letters  telling  her  absent 
friends  good-bye.  To  her  expected  decease  the  teachers 
became  almost  resigned. 

All  her  trinkets  had  been  given  away,  her  books  and 
clothes,  but  at  recess, — to  even  things, — flowers  and 
bon-bons  were  received  from  the  boys'  school.  The 
flowers  were  made  into  a  wreath  and  placed  upon  her 
head  and  pinned  in  decorative  garlands  upon  her  dress. 
The  bon-bons  were  eaten. 

"  This  is  the  last  candy  you  will  ever  eat, — isn't  it, 
darling?  "  asked  one  lugubrious  admirer. 

"  I  'spect  so.  That's  why  I'm  eating  so  hearty, — 
to  be  on  the  safe  side.  If  a  girl  is  through  with  tummy- 
aches  for  all  eternity  she  may  as  well  satisfy  her  ap- 
petite for  good.  Help  yourselves,  though,  girls. 
There's  enough  for  all." 

"  If  angels  don't  eat,  how  do  they  live?  " 

"  On  scents.  They  are  not  made  of  meat,— -like  you, 
—so  don't  have  to  eat  it  and  suchlike.  They're  made 
of  air,  so  the  fragrance  of  lilies  and  roses  keeps  'em 
fat." 

She  held  up  her  hand  to  command  silence  and,  smil- 
ing and  flower-crowned,  made  her  farewell  speech. 


358  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  I'm  a-leaving  you,  my  friends,  but  not  forever, — 
'cause  sometimes  I  am  coming  back.  You  won't  see  me, 
for  I  will  be  an  invisible,  subjunctive  hallumination, 
with  no  meat  for  you  to  see.  I  will  be  a  spiritual  fact, 
and  you  will  have  to  discern  me  spiritually ! 

"  Some  day,  howsoever,  you  will  be  a-standing  up 
trying  to  recite  your  lesson, — and  you  won't  know  it. 
You  will  think  and  think,  and  get  scareder  and 
scareder,  while  Miss  Jones  will  get  madder  and  ever 
more  aggravated.  Then  suddenly — you  will  know  the 
answer.  When  that  time  comes  remember  that  it's  not 
Unconscious  Cerebration  a-helping  you  or  nobody  else, 
but  just  your  old  friend  Greenwoods,  who  popped  the 
answer  into  your  minds.  It's  her  a-telling  as  of  yore! 
And  that  is  how  I  shall  get  even  with  Miss  Jones  when 
I  am  dead.  But  don't  depend  upon  me,  for  I  won't 
hang  around  a  schoolhouse — much!  And  sometimes 
on  summer  nights " 

She  might  have  continued  in  this  happy  strain  until 
the  bell  rang  (for  she  was  not  only  eating  her  last  of 
earthly  foods,  but  talking  to  her  last  earthly  audi- 
ence),— but  Marie  stirred  restlessly.  This  prolonged 
and  brilliant  exit  had  lasted  too  long, — had  outlasted, 
in  fact,  Marie's  good  resolutions.  Pity  for  one  to 
die  so  young  was  impossible  in  this  case,  and  remorse 
was  changing  to  the  bitter  realization  that  she  had  been 
the  means  of  promoting  the  gay  young  creature  to  a 
loftier  form  of  existence.  Marie  was  envious. 

"  When  you  get  to  Heaven,  Greenwoods,"  she  inter- 
rupted, despite  nudges  and  dark  looks,  "  you  won't  be 
a  free  and  independant  orphan  any  more !  " 

At  the  humiliation  in  store  for  the  haughty  orphan, 
Marie  smiled  maliciously.  And,  behold,  The  Green- 
woods was  smiling  too, — but  in  angelic  j  oy ! 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  359 

"  That's  the  best  part  of  all,  Marie !  I'll  have  my 
Papa  and  my  Mamma!  No  blessing  is  like  that, — not 
even  independence.  Besides,  it's  no  credit  to  be  an 
orphan  in  Heaven,  for  God  and  the  angels  are  sweeter 
than  ever  to  you,  and  even  a  stupid  child  can  get  on 
fine  and  dandy.  But  down  here  it  takes  sense !  " 

At  last  the  children  understood.  It  was  not  orphan- 
hood that  made  The  Greenwoods  superior,  but  an  in- 
nate something  that  enabled  her  to  triumph  over  the 
condition  in  which  she  was  placed.  To  be  like  her  it 
was  not  necessary  to  be  an  orphan,  it  was  only  neces- 
sary to  make  the  best  of  that  state  into  which  they  had 
been  called. 

"  And  sometimes  on  summer  nights  you  will  be  sitting 
in  the  yard.  And  some  one  will  call,  '  Look ! '  And 
then,  across  the  sky  you  will  see  my  star  sail  by  (it's 
the  big  shooting  one,  girls,  what  goes  so  slow)  ;  and 
when  you  see  it  you  can  say,  '  There  goes  The  Green- 
woods out  a-riding ! ' 

"  How  comes  it  yours  ?  "  asked  Marie !  "  I've  as 
much  right  to  that  star  as  you?  " 

"  Maybe  so,"  agreed  Woody,  who  had  not  yet  shed 
all  her  human  nature,  "  But  I  shall  get  there  first  and 
claim  it.  But  you  may  have  it  when  you  come, — if  it's 
not  wore  out !  " 

"  You  hateful  piece !  You  are  dying  just  to  get 
there  first  and  take  the  pick!  But  you  let  that  star 
alone,  or  I'll  make  trouble  the  minute  I  get  there!  I 
want  it  kept  nice  and  fresh." 

"  Marie,"  said  a  little  girl  who  knew  Marie's  fail- 
ing ;  "  you  can  never  have  things  nice  and  fresh,  if  you 
get  what  you  want;  for  you  never  want  except  what 
somebody  else  has  got.  So  all  your  things  are  bound  to 
be  second  hand  or  imitation." 


360  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  And  you  haven't  got  there  yet,"  laughed  Harriet. 

"And  it  will  be  a  sad  day  for  the  angels  when  she 
does,"  sneered  an  older  girl  who  stood  by,  "  for  she 
will  break  the  whole  thing  up, — and  be  miserable  still." 

Marie  was  unmoved  by  these  reflections  on  her  char- 
acter. "  I  don't  care.  If  I  have  to  keep  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments and  go  to  church  every  Sunday  to  get  to 
Heaven  and  then  can't  have  that  star,  I'll  stay  away. 
I  don't  think  much  of  Heaven  anyhow !  " 

They  shrank  from  her,  as  from  something  evil.  The 
future  life  was  near  to  them  that  morning.  The  Green- 
woods had  brought  Heaven  almost  to  a  level  with  their 
eyes,  and  it  had  made  them  in  love  with  death.  Now 
Marie, — despoiling  eternity  of  its  beauty, — was  open- 
ing before  their  shuddering  gaze  the  vast  abyss  of  Hell. 

"Where  will  you  go,  Marie?  "  Pearl  asked  gravely. 
*'  Do  you  actually  want  to  burn  forever,  because  you 
can't  have  The  Greenwoods'  star?  " 

Another's  star  in  Marie's  eyes  was  more  desirable 
than  Heaven,  but  the  alternative  was  disagreeable. 
She  burst  into  tears. 

The  smile  had  faded  from  The  Greenwoods'  face. 
She  looked  sad  and  thoughtful,  but  knew  what  she  must 
do.  All  her  life  she  had  wanted  that  star !  It  had  been 
her  favorite  dream  of  Paradise.  Yet  she  could  not  let 
Marie  burn  because  of  it;  and  an  angel  cannot  enjoy 
what  others  envy. 

"  You  won't  have  to  burn,  Marie,"  she  said,  "  You 
may  have  the  star !  " 

Marie  received  the  gift  in  silence,  and  grim  anger 
seized  the  others.  The  space  around  Marie  grew  wider, 
and  the  children  gazed  at  her  in  scorn, — all  but  Woody. 

"  I  won't  touch  it  till  you  get  there,  Marie,  if  you 
will  let  me  ride  in  it  then.  Maybe  the  little  ones  are 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  361 

prettier  inside, — and  easier  cranked !  "  There  was  a 
faint  sigh  of  renunciation. 

The  star  was  now  Marie's,  but  its  charm  was  gone. 
Its  light  had  faded,  and  it  seemed  a  huge  dark  world 
pressing  her  restless  spirit  down,  down,  down.  A 
gift  taken  from  an  angel  through  the  power  of  envy  is 
a  heavy  load  to  bear.  Marie  had  begun  to  cry  because 
she  did  not  have  the  star ;  she  kept  on  because  she  had  it. 
It  had  lost  its  beauty  and  Marie  wished  to  be  disencum- 
bered; but  to  give  it  back  before  the  girls  would  be  to 
unscreen  her  sin,  and  cover  herself  with  ignominy.  She 
resolved  to  wait  and  return  it  privately.  It  was  just  an 
incubus.  What  good  is  a  star  in  this  world? 

The  older  pupils  now  claimed  The  Greenwoods,  and 
they  fed  her  on  salted  peanuts  and  listened  to  a  disser- 
tation on  supernal  joys. 

The  children  were  indignant.  Woody  was  the  sweet- 
est child  they  had  ever  known,  but  they  had  been  incited 
to  disloyalty  by  Harriet  and  Marie, — Marie,  who  now, 
on  this  last  day,  had  taken  The  Greenwoods'  star.  All 
they  needed  was  a  leader.  Harriet's  remembrance  of 
her  part  in  the  betrayal  now  spurred  her  on  against  her 
partner  in  crime. 

"  Marie,"  she  commanded,  "  give  that  star  back  to 
Woody!" 

Marie  regarded  with  bitterness  the  one  that  had  tried 
to  take  The  Greenwoods'  place.  "  Let's  see  you  make 
me!" 

Harriet  forthwith  seized  Marie's  luckless  hair,  and 
the  others  followed  her  example. 

"  Don't  everybody  pull !  "  said  Harriet,  "  Some  of 
you,  put  your  handkerchiefs  in  her  mouth,  to  stop  her 
yelling!" 

A  few  minutes  later,  the  pride  of  the  Kingstons, — she 


362  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

who  had  so  recently  spurned  Heaven  itself, — was  grovel- 
ing, according  to  directions,  at  The  Greenwoods'  feet. 
The  Greenwoods, — who  had  feared  Marie  was  com- 
ing to  demand  her  halo, — finding  that  it  was  but  a  mat- 
ter of  the  return  of  the  star,  accepted  it  thankfully,  and 
forthwith  invited  all  present  to  ride  in  it  "  the  minute 
they  was  dead." 


CHAPTER  XLVIII 

NOTHING  like  this  had  ever  happened  in  Wayville 
before  and  the  town  was  shaken  to  its  center.  No  one 
had  ever  so  appealed  to  the  Wayvillites, — barring  the 
mammas  of  small  girls, — as  had  The  Greenwoods,  and 
many  would  have  gladly  died  for  the  merry  little  soul. 
They  felt  that  something  must  have  gone  hideously 
wrong  that  this  child,  so  full  of  joy,  turned  from  life, 
and  faced  the  grave  with  laughter. 

The  mammas  especially  were  worried.  Who  had 
driven  The  Greenwoods'  hopes  from  earth?  Them- 
selves? Had  they  erred  in  resenting  her  proud  accep- 
tance of  her  orphanhood?  Her  independence  had  made 
their  children  envious,  so  the  independence  had  seemed 
wrong.  But  now  the  children  envied  her  her  coming 
death !  Where  was  this  envy  leading  them  ?  What  had 
it  to  give?  Might  it  not  be  that  the  fault  lay  more  in 
the  envy  than  in  the  independence? 

With  grave  faces  the  mammas  rallied  to  Mrs.  King- 
ston's help.  They  met  the  children  at  the  school  in 
gaily  decorated  vehicles,  and  after  a  drive  accompanied 
them  to  a  party  at  Marie's. 

But  the  children  were  disconcerted,  and  the  party 
was  a  failure. 

It  had  seemed  perfectly  right  and  proper, — Marie 
being  deserving  of  punishment, — to  yank  her  hair  out 
by  the  roots,  and,  considering  her  covetous  disposition, 
it  had  seemed  expedient  also  to  leave  her  out  of  the  ban- 
quet in  honor  of  the  dear  departing, — that  had  been 
given  at  noon, — but  when  it  came  to  going  to  a  party  at 

363 


364  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

her  house  only  a  few  hours  later,  and  to  facing  Marie's 
outraged  parent, — it  was  different! 
-  They  tried  to  get  out  of  it,  blushing  prettily,  and 
offering  regrets  that  were  confused  and  ineffectual. 
So  they  breathed  lightly  as  they  munched  their  mints, 
squeezed  each  other's  hands  for  comfort,  and  gazed 
fearfully  at  their  hostess,  while  waiting  for  the  blow. 

The  calendar  spring  had  come,  but  ice  and  snow  still 
lingered.  They  stood  stiffly  around  the  big  bonfire  and 
watched  a  stew  preparing,  while  the  mammas  tried 
sedulously  to  instil  some  life  into  the  group.  Those 
mammas  seemed  like  protecting  bulwarks  to  the  young 
hair-pullers ;  and  gradually  it  dawned  upon  the  latter 
that  Marie  was  not  going  to  tell,  nor  Woody  to  die. 

In  the  morning,  Dr.  Kingston  assured  them,  The 
Greenwoods  would  go  to  school  as  usual,  to  let  them  see 
that  she  was  living;  but  in  the  afternoon  she  would  go 
to  Boston  for  new  toys  and  new  dresses, — which  she 
was  to  select  herself, — and  stay  a  week  with  his  sister, 
who  had  long  been  eager  for  a  visit,  and  see  the  zoo  and 
matinees  and — everything ! 

"  And  I  have  whole  bunches  of  fire-crackers,"  said 
Walter,  "  and  the  minute  I  hear  her  voice  in  the  morn- 
ing I  shall  touch  them  off ! " 

"  And  Friday  I'm  to  give  her  a  party, — Mamma  says 
so,"  said  Harriet. 

"  And  Saturday  she  spends  with  me,"  added  Pearl. 

"  And  when,"  inquired  The  Greenwoods  calmly, 
"  will  you  have  the  funeral?  " 

"  Not  at  all !  "  asserted  Robert  firmly. 

"  Aren't  you  a-going  to  bury  me,  Dr.  Kingston  ?  " 

"  We  won't  let  you  die."  He  gazed  at  her,  trying 
with  all  the  power  of  his  will  to  dispel  her  delusion. 
She  stared  fixedly  back  again. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  365 

"  My  Mamma  is  coming  to  take  me." 

"  I  will  be  there  when  she  comes,  and  ask  her  to  let 
you  stay." 

"  I  want  to  go.  This  world  isn't  the  place  for  a  little 
girl  like  me." 

"  But  we  need  you,  darling.  It  wouldn't  be  a  bit  of 
fun  without  you!  Your  mamma  will  lend  you  to  us  a 
little  longer." 

"  And  we  will  be  so  good  to  you,"  promised  Marie. 

"  You've  already  been  lovely  to  me,  but — I  want  my 
mamma  and  my  papa !  " 

The  veil  was  down,  showing  the  free  and  independent 
orphan  weary  of  her  high  estate, — yet  it  was  one  that 
she  never  would  have  chosen,  had  they  only  known  it. 
Only  a  little  girl  was  she, — a  homesick  little  girl  at  that. 
Seeing  her  on  the  verge  of  tears,  the  young  guests  got 
out  their  handkerchiefs  for  a  general  lamentation.  It 
was  mean  to  keep  her  when  she  wanted  her  mamma  so, 
and  they  thought  remorsefully  of  certain  petitions 
sneaked  up  to  the  Throne  of  Grace. 

Robert  had  dismissed  her  approaching  death  as  a 
delusion,  but  her  longing  for  it  almost  unnerved  him. 
The  fun  germs  had  blinded  him  to  the  slenderness  of  the 
tie  that  bound  her  to  the  earth.  So  long  as  she  had  been 
contented  anything  had  seemed  good  enough  for  her, 
now  he  racked  his  brain  to  find  something  good  enough. 
But,  having  learnt  to  be  happy  without  earthly  aids, 
she  disdained  his  offers.  He  took  her  in  his  arms. 

"  I  can't  let  my  little  free  and  independent  orphan 
go !  "  he  said. 

But  independence  had  lost  its  charms.  "  I  want  my 
mamma,"  sobbed  The  Greenwoods,  "  I  don't  want  to  be 
independent !  " 

Mammas  wiped  their  eyes,  little  girls  boohooed,  little 


366  "  THE  GREENWOODS  " 

boys  sniffed  dolorously.  Robert  tried  again,  but  felt 
dishonest  in  using  the  props  that  he  had  taken  from  her. 
"  Put  off  going  till  Chester  comes.  He  can't  be  here  to- 
night ;  and  think  how  he  loves  you !  " 

"  Why  didn't  he  marry  me  then  ?  " 

Robert  sadly  reflected  that  her  confidence  in  Chester, 
like  all  else  on  which  she  had  set  her  affection, — even 
down  to  Belinda, — was  lost.  Walter  answered  for  him. 
"  Because  I  am !  " 

"  You  won't.     I'm  a-going  to  be  an  angel !  " 

"  You're  already  one, — the  only  one  on  earth, — 
that's  why  we  want  to  keep  you !  " 

Ordinarily  Walter  was  bashful,  but  now,  oblivious  of 
all  but  her,  he  declared  his  love  before  the  crowd  right 
boldly ;  yet  no  one  laughed. 

"  An  angel  is  the  only  kind  of  girl  I'd  marry !  If 
you  die  I'll  be  a  shriveled-up  old  bachelor.  And,  sweet 
precious," — he  patted  the  hand  that  hung  over  Robert's 
shoulder,  "  stay  with  us  a  little  longer.  We  know  we're 
just  plain  meat  people,  but  we  need  you,  and  we  love 
you  the  best  that  we  know  how !  " 

"  And  now  let  us  hurry  and  get  the  skates  on,"  said 
Robert,  and  the  mammas  rushed  to  help  him,  "  You 
take  one  hand,  Walter,  I  the  other,  and  what  fun  we 
shall  have ! " 

"  I  didn't  know,"  whispered  one  small  miss  to  another, 
"  that  the  Kingstons  loved  her  so ;  I  thought  they  were 
cold-hearted ;  but  they're  as  crazy  about  her  as  we  are." 

"  Maybe  they're  feeling  mean  like  we  are.  Mamma  is. 
I  know  by  the  way  she  talked." 

"  Mamma  too.  And  she  did  tell  me  not  to  play  with 
Woody.  Did  you  notice  Mrs.  Kingston?  She  cried 
straight  through  everything !  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  367 

"  And  we  always  thought  her  mean  to  Woody !  Do 
you  s'pose  she  loves  her, — or  just  is  scared?  " 

The  Kingstons  looked  at  one  another, — and  waited. 
Guests  had  been  coming  all  evening,  as  if  for  a  reception, 
but  now  they  were  gone.  The  Kingstons  had  taken 
The  Greenwoods  up  to  bed,  kissed  her  good-night, — 
**  good-bye,"  she  called  it, — returned  solemnly  to  the 
library,  and  lost  their  nerve. 

The  Ides  of  March  had  come. 

In  every  home  The  Greenwoods  was  the  topic  of  talk ; 
and  while  the  elders  were  telling  hair-raising  stories 
around  the  fire,  little  girls  were  crying  themselves  to 
sleep,  and  big-eyed  little  boys  were  wishing  they  could 
see  (if  their  papas  were  holding  their  hands)  the  Thing 
that  was  coming  for  Woody  Forest. 

Between  The  Greenwoods  and  death, — in  the  public 
estimation, — stood  only  the  stalwart  form  of  Robert 
Kingston.  It  was  understood  that  he  intended  to  fight 
death  and  angels  to  a  finish.  Many  believed  he  was 
committing  a  sin, — for  plainly  the  child's  time  had 
come.  Yet,  just  what  he  was  to  do  was  a  mystery,  and 
his  assembled  family  regarded  him  with  anxiety. 

"  Of  course  there  is  no  danger,"  remarked  Colonel 
Kingston,  who  was  still  restlessly  bewailing  his  com- 
plaints over  Woody's  song,  "  People  never  die  of 
dreams,  and  I  am  not  superstitious.  But  she  was  pale, 
Bob,  and  ominously  silent." 

"  She  has  been  up  since  daybreak  and  is  tired.  She 
has  had  a  strenuous  day." 

"  She  ate  very  little  dinner ! "  said  Mrs.  Kingston 
apprehensively. 

"  Too  much  oyster  stew  this  afternoon." 

"  Only  one  plate,  Robert,  and  that,  not  full ! " 


368  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Didn't  she  have  some  candy?  " 

"  Nothing  but  mints." 

"  Enough,  though,  to  affect  her  appetite." 

"  Anyway,  I  shall  take  her  a  glass  of  hot  milk  before 
she  goes  to  sleep.  It  can't  hurt,  Robert." 

Mrs.  Kingston  rose,  but  as  she  left  the  room  Marie 
gloomily  shook  her  head. 

"  Hot  milk  won't  help !  The  cook  noticed  that  she 
didn't  eat  any  dinner  and  fixed  her  a  supper  in  the 
kitchen.  Walter  and  I  peeped  through  the  door  to  see 
if  she  was  eating.  She  looked  just  too  sweet  sitting 
there  like  a  princess,  with  all  the  servants  bending 
over  her, — but  she  only  ate  seven  bites !  " 

"  Why  don't  you  do  something  for  her,  Bob?  "  asked 
Walter  fiercely. 

"  What  is  there  to  do,  Walter?    She  isn't  sick." 

"  When  she  gets  sick  it  will  be  too  late.  Do  some- 
thing now !  " 

The  telephone,  which  had  been  j  ingling  steadily  since 
dusk,  interrupted  them.  People  simply  cannot  sit  with 
folded  hands  when  an  angel  is  expected, — though  what 
to  do  is  puzzling  to  poor  humanity.  Wayville  was  ex- 
cited. Feeling  as  it  did  that  it  had  entertained  an 
angel  unawares, — and  shabbily, — the  threatened  ap- 
proach of  another  was  unendurable. 

Walter  answered  the  call  and  they  heard  him  say. 
"  No,  Chess,  she's  not  sick  .  .  .  No,  she  hasn't  com- 
plained; but  she  never  does,  you  know  .  .  .  Yes,  aw- 
fully! .  .  .  Oh,  we  are  just  uneasy  .  .  .  Nothing  ex- 
cept she  has  no  appetite  and  is  pale  as  she  can  be  ... 
Yes,  I  would,  if  I  were  you;  and  I'd  come  quick  .  .  . 
Yes,  bring  sister  Ellen  with  you.  And  hurry,  Chess, — 
before  it  is  too  late !  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  369 

"  Walter,  Walter !  "  sighed  Robert,  "  I  thought  you 
were  going  to  be  sensible  and  help  me." 

"  Help  nothing !  You  are  not  doing  anything.  I 
tell  you  right  now,  Bob :  this  is  no  time  for  pretending. 
I'm  scared  green  and  I  own  up  to  it !  I  think  that  when 
a  poor  beautiful  little  orphan  girl,  without  a  relative  on 
earth,  is  lying  in  bed  waiting  for  a  spook  to  get  her,  it's 
time  for  her  friends, — if  she  has  any, — to  be  gathering ! 
Instead  of  loafing  here  like  warts,  I  think  we  ought  to 
sit  around  her  bed  and  watch  and  hold  her  hands !  I'm 
going ! " 

The  way  was  barred  by  Robert.  "  Be  quiet,  boy. 
Nothing  will  get  The  Greenwoods.  She  is  perfectly 
safe !  The  cook  and  Mrs.  Burns  are  staying  in  with 
her,  and  the  maid  is  in  the  next  room.  I  want  her  to 
sleep.  She  is  tired." 

"  It  seems  strange,  Robert,"  said  Mrs.  Kingston, 
reentering,  "  that  you  trust  her  to  the  servants  at  such 
a  time,  instead  of  to  one  of  us !  " 

"  He  doesn't  love  her  himself !  "  moaned  Marie,  "  so 
he  thinks  we  don't !  " 

"  She  had  her  choice  and  preferred  the  servants," 
he  retorted. 

"How  is  she?  "  asked  Colonel  Kingston  of  his  wife. 

"  Rather  droopy.  She  tried  to  drink  the  milk,  but 
couldn't ! " 

A  groan  went  up. 

"  She  was  simply  sleepy,"  exclaimed  Robert. 

"  Nonsense,  Bob !  She  needs  a  stimulant  or  a  seda- 
tive or  a  laxative  or  something !  " 

"  Which  do  you  advise,  father?  " 

"  Anything !  Some  oil  to  clear  up  her  system, — or 
paregoric  to  soothe  her.  Isn't  that  what  they  give 
babies?  Or  a  little  strichnine  or  oxygen.  Oxygen's 


370  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

the  thing !  It  can't  hurt  her.  Why,  we  breathe  it  con- 
stantly." 

Nevertheless,  Robert,  as  usual,  was  obdurate.  He 
would  neither  act  himself  nor  permit  them  to.  They 
were  afraid  to  retire,  and  he  was  afraid  to  leave  them, 
so  they  sat  listening,  with  frequent  outbursts  of  impa- 
tience. Presently  Chester  and  Ellen  joined  them  and 
they  too  listened  and  waited. 

They  spoke  in  whispers,  starting  at  every  sound.  Oc- 
casionally one  tiptoed  to  Woody's  door  and  listened  to 
her  breathing.  The  servants  held  prayer  services  in 
the  kitchen,  and  this  over,  flitted  uneasily  about,  like 
ghosts  in  the  semi-darkness.  Smothered  sobs  came 
from  unexpected  corners. 

Then  in  the  gloom,  there  trembled  through  the  house 
a  weird,  blood-curdling  cry.  A  plaintive  wail  from  one 
in  anguish!  Something  uncanny  was  occurring  and, 
with  bated  breath,  they  listened. 

"  Mother  Burns  !  O h,  Mother  Burns !  Ou- 

cheeee !  Come  quick !  My  stomach  hurts !  " 


CHAPTER  XLIX 

MR.  FAUNCE  read  the  telegram, — Mrs.  Kingston's 
hurry  call, — with  troubled  mein.  Frances  listened  in 
silence,  too  stunned  for  grief,  but  trying  to  think, — to 
realize  it. 

"  Poor  little  Greenwoods !  "  he  murmured.  "  So 
young,  so  merry !  " 

"  Hush !  "  exclaimed  Frances  resentfully.  "  She  isn't 
dead, — yet !  It  doesn't  even  say  she's  dying ;  only  that 
I  must  come  at  once." 

He  looked  at  her  pityingly,  knowing  that  the  truth 
must  be  faced. 

"  But  would  they  have  sent  for  you,  unless  she  were 
in  extremis?  It  is  kind  of  Mrs.  Kingston  to  invite  you 
even  now, — considering  your  behavior;  but  there  is 
nothing  you  can  do,  and  she  certainly  doesn't  expect 
you  to  intrude." 

"  I  don't  care  what  she  thinks, — with  my  Greenwoods 
dying!" 

And,  with  a  hot  glance  of  scorn,  Frances  left  to  make 
hasty  arrangements  for  her  journey.  For  of  course 
she  went,  though  she  went  alone  and  with  the  disap- 
proval of  her  entire  family  connection.  She  cared  not 
a  whit  what  they  thought, — nor  what  Mrs.  Kingston 
thought, — for  her  own  thoughts  were  all  for  Woody. 
Yes,  for  The  Greenwoods ;  who  was  dying,  perhaps,  and 
calling  for  her ;  who  of  all  the  world,  loved  her  the  best, 
who  had  chosen  her  for  a  mother.  And  what  a  mother 
she  had  been!  She,  who  had  sacrificed  the  darling  to 

371 


372  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

her  pride, — who  had  heard  the  call  of  her  soul, — had 
watched  her  turn  from  earth  to  Heaven  for  sympathy, 
had  seen  the  shadows  gather  and  yet  had  vacillated. 
Now  death  was  forcing  her  to  act,  but  would  she  be  in 
time?  Did  she  deserve  to  be  in  time, — she  who  had 
failed! 

The  girl's  lip  curled  in  self-contempt.  Yet  while  she 
had  always  comprehended  her  own  need  of  The  Green- 
woods, she  had  only  begun  to  apprehend  The  Green- 
woods' need  of  her.  She  could  not  conceive  of  Woody 
being  mistreated. 

Chester  and  Ellen,  who  met  her  at  the  station,  rec- 
ognized her  without  difficulty.  They  knew  her  by  her 
beauty  and  her  grief-worn  face.  Despite  their  good 
breeding  they  whirled  her  away  with  such  despatch  that 
she  feared  the  worst.  Yet  Woody  was  not  dying,  they 
told  her,  but  was  critically  ill  and  needed  her. 

Frances  grew  more  hopeful,  but,  as  her  immediate 
uneasiness  for  The  Greenwoods  was  alleviated,  her  fear 
of  Robert  and  his  mother  arose.  Would  Robert  think 
she  had  taken  advantage  of  precious  little  Woody's  ill- 
ness to  seek  a  reconciliation? 

Ellen  was  giving  her  a  history  of  the  case.  Acute  in- 
digestion, complicated  with  the  grip!  To  Frances'  in- 
experienced ears  it  did  not  sound  very  serious.  She 
was  relieved,  but  embarrassed. 

"  They  feared  she  was  going  to  die,"  said  Chester, 
with  a  feeble  smile,  "  and  tried  to  keep  her  alive  by  con- 
stant feeding ! " 

"  I  supposed  by  the  telegram,"  said  Frances,  in 
palliation  of  her  coming,  "  that  it  was  some  grave  dis- 
ease. I  didn't  know  it  was  indigestion !  " 

They  looked  at  her  reproachfully,  and  Ellen  got  out 
her  watch.  "  It  is  almost  time  for  it,"  she  groaned. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  373 

Frances'  terror  grew  strong  again. 

"  For  what?     An  operation?  " 

"  Worse  still,"  said  Chester,  "  for  Woody's  next  dose 
of  medicine !  " 

The  girl  laughed  in  relief,  but  they  seemed  so  shocked 
at  her  levity,  that  she  remembered  it  was  no  joke  to 
dose  The  Greenwoods. 

"  We  had  hoped,"  resumed  Ellen,  "  that  with  your 
influence  over  both  persons  " — Frances  blushed — "  that 
you  could  do  something." 

Miss  Faunce  grew  chill  in  apprehension.  Did  they 
want  her  to  physic  The  Greenwoods?  Had  she  defied 
her  friends  and  come  all  this  way  only  to  repeal  to  her 
enemies  her  helplessness?  She  could  not  give  The 
Greenwoods  medicine!  The  Greenwoods  wouldn't  take 
it! 

"  If  all  the  excitement,"  continued  Ellen,  "  and  the 
struggle  to  get  it  down  her  were  not  positively  injuri- 
ous, it  would  not  be  so  brutal  to  Bob  to  try  to  give  it !  " 

Had  they  sent  for  her  to  coerce  Dr.  Kingston? 
Frances  stiffened. 

"  It  seems  strange,"  said  Ellen,  "  that  in  this  enlight- 
ened age  a  man  of  Bob's  intelligence  should  pin  his 
faith  to  drugs !  But  with  his  usual  obduracy,  he  re- 
fuses to  try  osteopathy,  hydropathy,  or  mental  thera- 
peutics; which,  with  a  child  of  Woody's  spirituality, 
would  be  so  much  better !  " 

**  Indeed  ?  "  Frances  was  bewildered,  but  her  head  was 
poised  at  its  loftiest  angle. 

"  Physicians  are  so  bigoted !  Why  is  it,  Miss 
Faunce,  that  those  who  have  to  deal  in  salvation, — of 
either  body  or  soul, — always  emulate  a  pig  in  their 
broad-mindedness,  and  a  donkey  in  their  reasonable- 
ness? " 


374  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Really,  I  am  unable  to  inform  you ! "  replied  Miss 
Faunce  icily. 

"  You  are  acquainted  with  Robert, — are  you  not, 
Miss  Faunce?  " 

"  I  have  met  Dr.  Kingston." 

Frances  spoke  haughtily,  but  it  was  lost  on  sister 
Ellen,  who  was  thinking  only  of  The  Greenwoods. 

"  Then  you  are  doubtless  aware  that  he  has  a  will 
of  his  own," — duly  mindful  that  she  was  discussing  her 
brother  with  a  stranger,  she  had  begun  with  becoming 
prudence,  but  warming  up  to  her  topic,  she  continued, 
with  more  zeal, — "  is,  in  fact,  as  stubborn  as  a  mule !  " 

"  A  donkey !  "  corrected  Chester. 

"  A  brute ! "  said  Ellen,  and  Frances  started  at  the 
word. 

"  An  utter  brute !  "  agreed  Chester  heartily. 

Frances  saw  why  Robert  was  sensitive  about  the 
epithet,  and  why  he, — gun-shy, — had  flinched  when  he 
found  the  word  in  her  letter,  thinking  she  had  hurled  it 
at  him  as  did  the  others.  Poor  Robert !  So  this  is  what 
he  had  to  contend  with ! 

"  But  there  is  no  use  telling  him  about  it,"  stated 
Ellen. 

"  I  had  no  intention  of  doing  so,"  retorted  Frances 
indignantly. 

"  My  dear  Miss  Faunce, — I  beg  your  pardon !  How 
shameful  of  us  to  reveal  our  family  squabbles  in  this 
barefaced  way!  What  must  you  think  of  us?  But  we 
are  so  harrowed  by  dear  little  Woody's  suffering," — 
she  applied  her  handkerchief,  and  Chester  got  out  his, 
— "  that  we  are  hardly  responsible.  It  isn't,  though,  as 
if  you  were  a  stranger,  for  we  have  heard  so  much  of 
you  from  our  sweet  little  Greenwoods,  and  Robert,  and 
poor  dear  Uncle  Mark. " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  375 

She  broke  off  abruptly.  Frances, — wishing  she  were 
at  home, — made  some  indistinct  response.  Spurred  by 
dire  need,  Ellen  floundered  on: 

"  Besides  you  will  be  there  in  a  minute  and  will  see 
for  yourself  how  it  is !  We  are  living  from  dose  to 
dose,  and  nothing  else  makes  one  bit  of  difference! 
Marie  blames  herself  for  Woody's  longing  for  death, 
so  destroys  her  medicine  and  substitutes  preserve  juice 
at  every  opportunity,  to  make  amends.  So  (you  know 
Bob's  savage  temper) " 

"  A  perfect  brute !  "  said  Chester. 

"  So  Marie  is  locked  up,  or  tied  to  a  bedpost,  and 
cries  incessantly.  Walter  is  bent  on  killing  Bob  (and 
who  can  blame  the  dear  boy,  Miss  Faunce),  so  he  is 
locked  up  too.  Poor  mamma  is  distracted.  Papa 
couldn't  stand  it,  so  he  left  home, — declares  he  will  not 
return  till  Bob  stops  torturing  that  angel  child !  And 
just  because  we  can't  conceal  our  sympathy  for  the 
little  saint,  Bob  vows  (the  horrid  brute!)  that  he  will 
take  her  to  the  hospital.  If  it  wasn't  for  her  disturb- 
ing the  other  patients,  I  believe  he  would  have  done  so 
before.  So  unless  you  can  do  something,  Miss  Faunce, 
Chess  and  I  leave  to-day.  I  wouldn't  spend  another 
night  with  the  crying  of  that  tormented  baby  in  my 
ears, — not  for  millions !  " 

"  Pardon  me,  Mrs. — Er — I  believe  you  neglected  to 
tell  me  your  name  ?  " 

"  How  stupid  in  me !    Call  me  Ellen !  " 

Verily  the  Kingstons  were  distraught.  Yet  The 
Greenwoods  had  warned  Frances  that  they  were  "  ner- 
vous." 

"  Thanks  !    But  what  is  it  you  wish  me  to  do  ?  " 

"Make  Bob  let  the  child  alone!"  explained  Chester 
bluntly. 


376  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  How  absurd !  As  if  I  would  presume  to  dictate  to 
Dr.  Kingston  how  he  is  to  treat  either  his  ward  or  his 
patient ! " 

They  were  disappointed.  "  Then  what  will  become 
of  The  Greenwoods  ?  " 

"  She  must  take  the  medicine,  Mr.  Kingston." 

"  But  she  won't  do  it.  All  this  ado  may  seem  ridicu- 
lous, but  the  situation  is  serious.  She  is  constantly 
growing  weaker,  can't  eat  because  of  her  stomach,  and 
won't  sleep  for  fear  Bob  will  get  some  medicine  down 
her  without  her  knowledge.  For,  O  Miss  Faunce,  The 
Greenwoods  wants  to  die !  " 

"  And  she  fancies,"  said  Ellen,  "  the  medicine  is  keep- 
ing her  from  heaven ;  that  the  angels  are  trying  to  get 
her  but  can't  stand  the  odor !  " 

"  Then  Dr.  Kingston  is  right  in  giving  it,"  said 
Frances,  "  even  according  to  mental  therapeutics." 

"  But  she  won't  take  it !  "  declared  Chester. 

"  For  me  she  will."  Frances  spoke  loftily,  for  she 
had  received  an  inspiration  and  was  ready  to  prove  to 
Robert's  mother  that  the  girl  he  loved  was  no  weakling. 

Chester  and  Ellen  exchanged  incredulous  glances, 
and  Ellen  said  dryly :  "  Then  you'd  better  hurry 
home,  Chess,  for  the  fight  will  begin  in  five  minutes; 
and  if  Miss  Faunce  can  really  influence  Woody,  we  can't 
get  there  too  soon !  " 

The  meeting  with  Mrs.  Kingston,  which  Frances  had 
so  dreaded,  was  neither  formal  nor  humiliating. 

Robert's  mother,  who  seemed  nervous  and  distressed, 
threw  her  arms  around  the  girl  who  had  jilted  Brother 
Mark  and  wept  upon  her  shoulder. 

"  Oh,  my  dear !  "  she  exclaimed,  "  I  thought  you 
would  never  come !  And  we  must  hurry  now  to  Woody. 
For  it  is  time  for  that  red  medicine !  " 


CHAPTER  L 

"You  needn't  be  looking  at  your  watch,  Dr.  King- 
ston !  "  said  a  weak,  querulous  voice.  "  'Tain't  time  for 
it  yet !  It's  three  minutes !  You  love  to  give  it  so  that 
you  can't  wait !  " 

Physician  and  nurses  exchanged  glances  of  despair. 
They  were  fully  cognizant  of  their  helplessness,  and 
The  Greenwoods  had  only  begun !  It  was  a  losing  fight, 
yet  she  could  be  cured  so  easily, — if  she  would  only 
submit.  Robert  thought  of  the  mothers  he  had  despised 
for  their  weakness  with  their  sick  children,  and  the  con- 
tempt they  had  raised  was  turned  against  himself.  His 
ward  was  dying,  because  he  could  not  control  her. 

"  I've  taken  ten  million  doses  of  the  cross-eyed  stuff, 
and  that's  enough!  You  must  be  trying  to  drown  my 
withinsides !  " 

"  Stop  talking,  Greenwoods." 

"  Then  you  stop  fixing  that  rat  poison !  I  won't  take 
it !  I  won't !  I  won't !  I'll  swallow  the  pillow  first !  " 

"  Listen,  Woody " 

"  It's  that  nasty  red  stuff!    O h !  "    The  wail  of 

anguish  that  had  demoralized  the  establishment  echoed 
through  the  house.  "  Pour  it  on  the  carpet !  Pour  it 
on  the  carpet!  Pour 

"  All  right,  darling.  We  will  pour  some  on  the  car- 
pet for  you.  Don't  we  always  do  it?  Lie  down  and  let 
me  talk  to  you." 

"  Get  away,  Dr.  Kingston !  Stay  over  there !  How 
can  I  see  if  it  burns  when  you  are  talking  my  arm  off? 
Get  away ! " 

877 


378  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

"  Listen,  Woody,  we  want  you " 

"  Shut  up,  and  let  me  die !  I  don't  care  what  you 
want.  I  want  to  go  to  heaven !  And  you  keep  me  so 
chuck  full  of  your  smelling  dope  that  I  can't  get 
through  the  gate;  and  I  smell  so  bad  that  my  Mamma 
can't  come  near  me !  " 

"  But  it  will  make  you  well, — so  you  can  run  and 
play." 

"  I  don't  want  to  play !  I  want  my  Mamma !  "  Tears 
and  sobs  mingled  with  her  protests,  "  I  want  you, 
Mamma !  Come  and  get  me !  Mamma !  Mamma !  " 

That  was  the  trouble.  That  was  why  the  inmates  of 
the  house  were  all  unstrung;  why  Colonel  Kingston 
had  left  home,  and  Mrs.  Kingston, — without  even  con- 
sulting Robert  beforehand  or  notifying  him  afterward, 
— had  sent  for  Frances.  The  Greenwoods  was  crying 
for  her  mother  and  would  not  be  comforted. 

"  Don't  cry  so,  darling." 

"  Go  away,  Dr.  Kingston !  Don't  you  touch  me. 
Don't  anybody  in  this  whole  house  touch  me !  I  want  my 
Mamma, — my  Mamma, — my  Mamma,  my — Frances !  " 

For  there  in  the  doorway  stood, — if  not  the  mother 
she  was  crying  for, — at  least,  one  that  she  loved.  So 
The  Greenwoods  accepted  the  gift  of  the  gods  and  was 
thankful. 

It  was  like  another  "  unconscious  subjunctive  hal- 
lumination,"  as  she  said  later,  and  Robert  agreed  with 
her  fully.  In  their  surprise,  he  forgot  the  quarrel,  The 
Greenwoods,  the  medicine ;  and  in  less  time  than  it  takes 
to  tell  it,  Woody  was  in  Frances'  arms  being  crooned 
over  and  caressed,  while  she  patted  Frances'  cheeks  and 
smiled  into  her  eyes. 

Robert  pinched  himself,  to  see  if  he  were  dreaming, 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  379 

and  found  that  he  was  badly  in  need  of  a  shave.  Later 
he  thought  of  the  medicine. 

"  Must  she  take  it  ?  "  asked  Frances. 

The  house  had  been  divided  into  two  camps ;  he  on  one 
side,  and  all  the  world  against  him.  For  even  the 
nurses  at  heart  had  gone  over  to  the  enemy.  So  he  sup- 
posed that  Frances,  too,  would  array  herself  with  The 
Greenwoods  and  against  "  the  brute." 

"  Of  course, — if  she  is  to  recover !  " 

Having  already  explained  this  point  to  weariness,  he 
spoke  impatiently.  Frances  glanced  at  him  in  quick  re- 
sentment; but  he  was  so  worn  and  haggard  that  her 
wrath  was  softened. 

"  Then,  if  you  will  leave  us  alone  for  a  little  talk, 
there  will  be  no  more  trouble  about  it." 

The  surrounders  looked  incredulous,  he  as  much  so 
as  the  rest ;  but  all  respectfully  withdrew.  They  were 
willing  to  give  Miss  Faunce  a  chance  to  make  good,  but 
were  convinced  that  she  could  not  get  around  The 
Greenwoods. 

Twenty  minutes  later  they  returned:  Robert,  to  give 
the  medicine, — now  overdue, — the  others,  to  commis- 
erate The  Greenwoods  and  watch  the  tug  of  war. 

And  the  medicine  was  swallowed,  with  so  lamblike  a 
meekness  that  all  were  routed  and  confused  from  the 
shock  of  surprise. 

Miss  Faunce  had  demonstrated  her  fitness  for  the 
post  of  Forester;  and  Mrs.  Kingston,  was, — after  the 
first  gasp, — elated  and,  having  assumed  the  responsi- 
bility for  Frances'  coming,  claimed  the  girl  as  her  own. 

"  I  told  you  so !  "  she  exclaimed  to  one  and  all, — to 
anyone  that  would  listen.  "  I  said  so  the  morning 
Woody  had  her  dream!  Before  that,  too, — days  be- 
fore; only  Robert  was  so  obdurate!  We  should  have 


380  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

sent  for  her  then.  She  is  a  wonderful  girl !  So  digni- 
fied, so  firm,  so  superior;  with  so  strong  and  well-de- 
veloped a  character!  I  loved  her  from  the  first.  But 
I  always  knew  I  should,  for  dear  Mark  did;  and  our 
tastes  were  always  similar.  I  know  now  why  Mark  left 
The  Greenwoods  to  Robert :  to  bring  him  in  touch  with 
Frances !  Dear  Mark !  Had  he  only  lived  to  see  this 
day!  And  she  is  so  pretty!  Quite  the  prettiest  girl 
I  know!  Don't  talk  to  me  about  Ardelia!  And,  with 
it  all  so  charmingly  modest.  I  don't  remember  ever 
before  having  met  any  one  so  altogether  pleasing. 
Well,  now  that  I  have  brought  her  here,  I  hope  Robert, 
— for  once, — will  act  reasonably !  " 

And  Frances  was  just  as  well  pleased  with  Mrs. 
Kingston.  A  sweet,  gracious,  motherly  woman !  How 
could  Woody  have  so  misrepresented  her?  Yet  Frances 
forgave  The  Greenwoods,  for  though  that  dreary  wait- 
ing seemed  to  have  been  needless,  by  it  she  had  been  able 
to  test  the  constancy  of  her  love.  For  her  love  had 
lasted. 

"  How  on  earth,"  asked  Robert  after  The  Green- 
woods had  gone  happily  to  sleep  and  the  Foresters  were 
alone,  "  did  you  get  her  to  take  the  medicine  ?  I  had 
reasoned,  pleaded,  threatened, — all  in  vain." 

"  Easily  enough.  I  told  her  how  much  confusion  she 
was  causing  others  by  her  refusal,  and  she  was  so 
ashamed  that  she  wanted  to  take  a  whole  bottle  to  make 
amends.  She  always  tries  to  be  polite,  you  know." 

"  I  don't  quite  understand.  You  mean — "  He 
looked  puzzled. 

"  She  is  taking  it  out  of  consideration  for  the  family. 
She  has  also  asked  me  to  telephone  your  father  and  ask 
him  to  come  back  home." 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  381 

"  The  blessed  little  lady !  Miss  Faunce,  The  Green- 
woods is  a  peach." 

"  I  told  you  long  ago  that  she  was  perfect." 

He  gazed  at  her  dreamily. 

"  And  you're  another ;  and  so  resourceful !  " 

Frances  blushed. 

"  And  to  think  I  feared  you  would  advise  me  to  try 
osteopathy !  " 

"  But  I  know  nothing  about  osteopathy,  nor  med- 
icine, nor  even  mental  therapeutics.  I'm  hopelessly 
ignorant.  But  I  love  Woody,  and — have  confidence  in 
you.  So,  if  you'll  suggest  the  remedies,  I  will  apply 
them." 

He  beamed  upon  her.  "  You  will  never  know,"  he 
said,  "  how  much  I  have  been  needing  you, — how  glad 
I  am  you  have  come !  " 

Her  next  remark  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  case. 
It  was : 

"  I  don't  like  your  Sister  Ellen  one  bit ! " 

"  Shake  hands  on  it,  then,"  said  Bob ;  "  for  I  don't 
either." 


CHAPTER  LI 

THE  GREENWOODS  had  been  buoyed  up  by  the  excite- 
ment of  not  taking  the  medicine,  but  the  opposition 
had  taxed  her  strength.  When  she  relaxed,  it  seemed 
as  if  she  would  die  from  weakness. 

Her  only  wish  was  to  have  Frances  by  her  side,  and 
she  cold-shouldered  the  rest  of  the  world  without  com- 
punction. Yet  Frances  had  never  seen  so  many  beauti- 
ful tokens  of  sympathy, — so  many  touching  attentions, 
— as  were  showered  upon  The  Greenwoods. 

When  it  became  know  that  the  child  had  consented 
to  be  "  dosed  "  merely  out  of  consideration  for  others, 
tears  were  shed  over  the  gentle  martyr,  and  few  could 
be  found  so  unfeeling  as  to  administer  a  single  pill ! 
Yet  the  Foresters  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  if 
the  invalid  grew  no  better,  at  least  she  grew  no  worse. 

"  If  she  would  only  take  an  interest  in  something,  the 
fight  would  be  half  over,"  sighed  Robert. 

The  unpleasantness  between  the  Foresters  had  van- 
ished at  the  first  meeting  of  their  eyes.  And  The  Green- 
woods having  brought  them  together,  kept  them  in- 
terested and  true,  gained  Mrs.  Kingston's  consent  to 
their  nuptials,  and  smoothed  the  future  for  them,  now 
drew  the  cords  of  their  hearts  together  and  securely  tied 
the  knot. 

Only  the  three  were  in  the  room  at  the  finale;  for  it 
was  time  for  a  dose.  Frances  was  kneeling  by  the  bed 
holding  the  glass,  Robert  beside  her,  as  the  victim 
asked: 

332 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  383 

"  What's  the  use  ?  I've  taken  it  three  days  now 
without  a  single  squirm,  and  I'm  not  well  yet." 

"  Please,  precious." 

"  I'm  a-going  to,  Francie ;  I  hope  you  are  not  get- 
ting nervous  too.  Have  you  noticed  the  Kingstons? 
Reg'lar  every  five  minutes  by  the  clock  the  whole  family 
has  a  fit.  I've  been  here  most  a  year  now,  and  they 
haven't  missed  a  single  time !  " 

"  You've  given  us  fits,  you  monkey,"  laughed  Robert. 

"  Take  the  medicine,  precious." 

"Francie,  didn't  I  say  I  was  a-going  to?  I'm  not 
a-going  to  distract  Mrs.  Kingston  again  or  even  run  the 
Colonel  away  from  home!  That  was  just  their  ner- 
vousness! Why  don't  you  treat  'em  for  it,  Dr.  King- 
ston?" 

"  Take  it,  Greenwoods,"  insisted  Frances. 

"  I'm  just  wondering  if  you  wasn't  giving  me  the 
wrong  stuff.  It  doesn't  seem  to  be  having  any  effect !  " 

"  Woody  darling,  why  don't  you  take  it !  " 

"  Because  I  want  to  ask  a  favor  of  the  doctor.  He 
owes  me  a  treat,  and  this  is  just  a  trifle.  Please,  Dr. 
Kingston?  " 

The  Foresters  exchanged  congratulatory  looks,  for 
Woody  was  beginning  to  take  an  interest  again, — even 
wanted  something. 

"Anything  I  can  get  for  you,  sweet  child,"  Robert 
promised  eagerly. 

"  Oh,  thank  you !  All  I  want  is  a  little  bluing  in  that 
medicine,  so  it  won't  look  so  red ! ' 

"  That,"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  wry  face  when  the 
medicine, — minus  the  bluing, — had  gone  down,  "  is  the 
meanest  dope  on  earth,  and  that,"  she  pointed  severely 
at  her  guardian,  "  is  the  meanest  man !  He  is  like  that 


384  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

about  everything,  France.  He  will  have  his  way  or  die ! 
Bluing  is  cheap  as  dirt,  yet  not  one  drop  would  he  give 
me!" 

"  Oh,  the  BRUTE!  "  sai'd  Frances. 

The  deadly  word  was  out,  and  a  scared  silence  filled 
the  room.  Frances  was  still  on  her  knees,  Robert  still 
beside  her.  As  the  unfortunate  word  escaped,  he  looked 
directly  at  her.  She  knelt,  motionless,  while  a  crimson 
flood  mantled  cheeks  and  brow  and  throat.  The  glass 
in  her  hand  trembled  slightly ;  her  head  was  bowed. 

Presently,  with  an  effort,  she  glanced  shyly,  appeal- 
ingly,  up  at  Robert.  And  so  timid  a  little  girl  looked 
at  him  through  Miss  Faunce's  eyes,  a  little  child  so 
frightened  and  repentant,  that — he  stooped  and  kissed 
her. 

"  Goodness  gracious,  sakes  alive !  "  exclaimed  The 
Greenwoods,  "  What  DID  you  do  THAT  for?  " 

"  Because  I  love  her." 

"  Love  Francie?  " 

"  With  all  my  heart !  " 

"  That's  the  funniest  thing  I  ever  heard  of  in  all  my 
life !  France,  do  you  love  him  ?  " 

"  Of  course,  goosie.     I've  always  loved  him." 

"  Are  you  a-going  to  marry  each  other?  " 

"  I  believe  that  is  the  arrangement."  And  Robert 
looked  imploringly  at  the  girl  he  loved. 

"  I  believe  it  is,"  she  assented. 

"  Then,  you  hateful,  cross-eyed  things ! "  exploded 
The  Greenwoods  wrathfully,  "  Why  haven't  you  told 
me  about  it  before  ?  " 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  they  were  almost  dizzy  from  the 
suddenness  of  the  denouement  and  felt  that  if  they 
opened  their  eyes  their  Paradise  might  vanish. 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  385 

"  What  was  you  a-waiting  for?  You  knew  I  was  like 
to  die  any  minute!  Didn't  you  want  me  in  the  wed- 
ding? " 

They  smiled  rapturously  at  the  word. 

"  Of  course  you  shall  be  in  the  wedding !  "  promised 
France. 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  let  me  know  ?  I  wouldn't  'a 
tried  to  die  with  a  wedding  to  be  so  soon.  You  should 
'a  told  me  instead  of  stuffing  me  full  of  that  red,  smelling 
rat  poison !  " 

"  Pardon  us,  sweet." 

<:  I  always  did  want  to  be  in  a  wedding ;  and  you  both 
knew  it !  I've  been  a-trying  my  level  best  to  marry  the 
doctor  off,  too,  ever  since  I've  been  here;  and  here  you 
was  a-going  to  let  me  go  to  heaven  and  miss  it!  And 
they  don't  have  weddings  there." 

"Little  darling!" 

Robert  sat  on  one  side  of  the  bed  and  patted  a  child- 
ish hand,  while  Frances,  on  the  opposite  side,  gently 
stroked  its  mate.  They  looked  at  each  other. 

"  Yes,  sweet.    In  heaven." 

"  They  don't,  no  such  thing !  And  I'm  not  a-going 
there,  anyway.  At  least,  not  just  now.  Heaven  has 
been  there  a  good  many  years,  and  I  suppose  it  will  last 
a  few  years  longer." 

"  Not  years,  beloved.     Surely  not !  " 

"Dr.  Kingston!     What  are  you  a-talking  about?" 

"  The  wedding,  dearest.  There's  no  use  putting  it 
off." 

"  Who  wants  to  put  it  off?  I'm  talking  about 
heaven !  " 

"  Oh !  " 

"  I  shall  stay  over  for  the  wedding,  for  I  can  die  any 
old  time.  And  no  matter  how  long  I  live,  I  won't  live 


386  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

as  long  as  Methuselah.  So  I  oughtn't  to  complain.  He 
is  a  great  comfort  to  me." 

"  And  to  me,"  said  Robert  fondly. 

"  I've  thought  of  him  lots  and  lots." 

"  And  I  too,"  Robert  fervently  agreed,  "  morning, 
noon,  and  night !  Who  could  help  it  ?  " 

He  gazed  soulfully  across  the  bed,  as  he  made  this  re- 
markable statement,  evidently  being  under  the  impres- 
sion that  he  was  making  a  pretty  speech  to  Frances. 
And  that  erstwhile  fastidious  damsel,  who  had  once 
looked  her  compliments  so  carefully  in  the  mouth,  with- 
out a  quibble,  appropriated  this  tribute  to  the  patriarch. 
Robert  could  say  such  lovely  things ! 

"  He  lived  nine  hundred  and  sixty-nine  years  and  no 
telling  how  many  months  and  days ;  but  he  has  been 
dead  longer  than  he  ever  was  alive !  And  he  is  still  dead, 
and  is  a-going  to  stay  dead  from  now  on.  So,  no  matter 
how  long  I  live,  I  shall  die  soon  enough.  And  while  it 
is  lovely  to  be  dead,  when  I  die  I  shall  stay  dead  a  long, 
long  time.  So  it  won't  hurt  to  put  it  off  a  little 
longer." 

"  Oh,  you  precious,  darling  angel !  "  cooed  Frances. 

"  No,  Dr.  Kingston  wouldn't  let  me  be  an  angel. 
But  I  shall  be  a  bridesmaid " 

"  It  certainly  shall !  " 

"  Or  a  flower-girl,  I  haven't  decided  yet  which." 

"  It  shall  be  whatever  it  pleases,"  Frances  promised 
in  the  same  cooing  tone. 

"  I  know  it.  And  I  wish  you  people  would  turn  my 
hands  loose.  You  are  choking  them !  " 

Her  hands  were  promptly  liberated;  and  Robert  re- 
turned to  a  sense  of  his  professional  duties. 

"  Think  it  over  quietly,  Woody, — the  wedding,  you 
know, — and  when  you  have  fully  made  up  your  mind 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  387 

what  you  want  to  be,  let  us  know.  You  have  talked 
enough." 

"  Yes,  sir;  but  when  had  I  better  have  the  wedding? 
I  haven't  a  rag  'cepting  my  Sundays  and  funerals. 
I'll  need  a  trousseau." 

"  So  will  I,"  said  Frances ;  "  so  there  will  be  plenty 
of  time." 

"  That's  good.  Now,  if  the  Doctor  wasn't  such  a 
hateful  old  obdurate  cuss,  we  could  go  to  Baltimore 
and  get  them  together." 

"  Why,  Woody !  " 

"  Don't  you  want  me,  France  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  sweet ;  but  that  is  no  way  to  speak  of 
your  guardian." 

"  Especially  when  I  intend  to  let  you  go." 

"  Golly  Moses !  "  exclaimed  The  Greenwoods.  "  Well, 
who'd  'a  thought  it?  " 

The  Greenwoods  was  thinking.  The  Foresters  had 
been  standing  at  the  window  lost  in  the  rapture  of  love's 
young  dream.  Then  Frances  remembered,  and  softly 
explained  to  Robert  that  she  had  never  thought  him  a 
brute  or  called  him  one;  and  he  explained  that  he  was 
an  idiot,  had  always  been  one,  and  so  had  deserved  the 
misery  he  had  endured 

"  How  comes  it? "  interrupted  The  Greenwoods 
shrilly. 

«Wh— at?" 

"  My  going  home  with  France. 

"  Yes,  dear." 

This  not  being  exactly  lucid,  she  tried  again. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  if  you  will  be  a  good  girl  and  not  talk 
any  more." 


388  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

At  this  uncalled-for  answer,  the  invalid  forgot  her 
ailments  and  sat  up  in  bed. 

"  Huh?  " 

"  Of  course,  sweet ;  but  be  quiet." 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Dr.  Kingston  ? 
What  are  you  a-talking  about  ?  Are  you  a-going  crazy 
right  here  before  my  eyes?  What  are  you  doing  over 
there,  anyhow?  Spooning?  Come  back  here,  both  of 
you,  and  talk  some  sense !  " 

They  meekly  approached  the  foot  of  the  bed,  and 
smiled  blissfully  upon  her.  She  watched  them  in  dis- 
gust, and  reopened  the  inquiry. 

"  How  comes  it  ?  " 

To  find  a  suitable  rejoinder  to  a  bald,  unconnected 
query  of  this  order  is  by  no  means  easy.  So,  in  their 
uncertainty,  Robert  looked  at  Frances,  who  gazed 
earnestly  at  him,  until  they  discovered  the  solution. 

"  Because  we  love  each  other." 

"  Didn't  we  love  each  other  last  summer  ?  "  asked 
The  Greenwoods. 

"  Yes,  dear ;  we  loved  you  too." 

"  If  you  are  talking  to  me,  I  wish  you'd  look  at  me." 

They  obeyed. 

"  Yes,  precious?  " 

"  Now :  How  comes  it,  if  we  loved  one  another  last 
summer  and  love  one  another  now,  that  I  am  to  live 
with  France  now  and  couldn't  then?  What's  hap- 
pened? " 

"  A  miracle.  Greenwoods,"  said  Robert. 

"  I  didn't  hear  any !  Must  have  been  while  you  was 
shoveling  some  medicine  down  my  throat.  Was  it  a 
volcano,  an  earthquake,  or  that  old  gentle  one?  " 

"  The  gentle  one,  the  greatest  miracle  of  all.  The 
miracle  of  love !  " 


"THE  GREENWOODS"  389 

"Which?" 

"  The  miracle  of  love !  Love  has  come,  and  all  is 
changed." 

She  regarded  them  thoughtfully. 

"  I  thought  you  two  had  been  acting  strange.  So 
that's  it?  But  how  about  Mr.  Perkins?  " 

"  Oh,  Woody  darling ! "  Frances  threw  up  her 
hands  for  mercy  and  turned  a  frightened  face  to 
Robert. 

He  was  frightened  too.  They  would  rather  not  have 
been  reminded  of  poor  dear  Uncle  Mark  at  just  this 
moment,  but  he  was  thrust  upon  them.  Robert  took 
Frances'  hand  to  show  he  understood,  and  seeing  no 
reproach  in  his  eyes,  she  found  courage  to  explain. 
Once  more  The  Greenwoods  was  forgotten. 

"  O  Robert !  You  will  never  know  how  sorry  I  am 
about  Mr.  Perkins.  I  have  always  been  so  sorry!  It 
was  all  my  fault,  for  I  was  mercenary  and  wanted  to 
marry  him.  But, — although  I  had  never  met  you  then, 
— something  held  me  back !  I  had  so  high  a  regard  for 
Mr.  Perkins.  He  had  certain  qualities  that  I  have  al- 
ways admired.  But  he  was  old,  Robert,  too  old  for  me ! 
I  wanted  youth.  What  I  loved  in  him  were  your  qual- 
ities that  he  possessed, — but  something  was  lacking. 
Then  Ned  came.  And  he  had  youth,  and  grace,  and 
beauty.  But  something  was  lacking  there,  too ;  so  I  was 
disillusioned.  But  when  I  found  you, — you ! — I  knew  I 
had  always  loved  you!  It  was  you  I  had  loved  in  Mr. 
Perkins ;  it  was  you  I  had  loved  in  Ned ;  it  was  you  I 
had  always  loved !  " 

:  My  own  sweet  darling !  " 

"What  I  wanted  to  know,"  asked  a  grim  young 
voice,  "  is  about  Dr.  Kingston's  promise  to  Mr.  Per- 


390  "THE  GREENWOODS" 

kins !  I  thought  me  and  him  had  to  live  under  the  same 
roof.  How  comes  it?  " 

Frances  blushed  over  her  unnecessary  explanation, 
and  Robert  looked  as  if  he  wanted  to  put  an  extin- 
guisher on  his  little  ward. 

"  I  will  tell  you  about  this,  Greenwoods,  and  then 
you  are  to  go  to  sleep,"  he  said,  "  You  may  go  home 
with  Frances  for  a  visit, — a  short  visit ;  then  she  and  I 
will  marry,  and  all  three  of  us  will  live  under  one  roof 
and  be  happy  ever  afterward.  Now  isn't  that  nicer 
than  a  volcano?  " 

She  considered  the  proposition  gravely.  She  still 
wanted  the  volcano,  but  the  wedding  would  be  nice ; 
and  altogether,  this  arrangement  seemed  better  for  the 
others,  so  she  would  try  to  put  up  with  it. 

"  Well,  it's  not  quite  so  lively,  but  it  has  its  advan- 
tages. You  see  we  can  take  our  bridal  tour " 

At  the  prospect  of  having  his  bridal  tour  conducted 
by  The  Greenwoods,  Robert  trembled,  but  Frances 
smiled  at  him  reassuringly. 

"  To  California,  and  I  can  live  in  my  beautiful  cave, 
after  all!  So  this  is  probably  the  miracle  what  the 
Lord  intended,  and  He  always  knows  best.  Do  you 
s'pose  He  was  arranging  this  last  summer,  Dr.  King- 
ston?" 

"  I  believe  He  was." 

"  And  we  never  dreamt  it !  What  geese  we  was ! 
Say,  France,  what  does  mercenary  mean  ?  " 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  UBflARY  FAOUTY 


A    000  040  427    7 


